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This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.

Where the Film Shines

How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.