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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.

While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)

Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.