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This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, 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 becomes available on Prime Video this December.