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It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.