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This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.