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This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.

Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – 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 while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.