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This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

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