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It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.

While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.

Where the Film Shines

How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.