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This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.