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This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.

Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.