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It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)

The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.