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It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, 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 the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)

The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.

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