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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)

Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.