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It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.

Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)

Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.