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It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – 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 obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)

The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.