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It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.

Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.

• Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.