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This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)

The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.