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This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.

Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

If these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)

The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.