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This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

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