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It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.

While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

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 by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.