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It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.

Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)

The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

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