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It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)

The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.