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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.

Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. 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 distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)

The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.