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It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.

Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

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