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This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.

While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)

Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.