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This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.

While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

If these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)

Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.