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This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.

Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

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