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It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.

Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.