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This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.

Where the Film Shines

How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Human Element

This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.