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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.

Where the Film Shines

How these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by 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, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.