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It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.

Where the Film Shines

If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. 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. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.