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It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.