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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.

Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – 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 – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside 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's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.