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This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.

While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.

Where the Film Shines

How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.