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It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.