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It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst 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 all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.