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It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.

Where the Film Shines

How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.