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It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.

Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)

The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.