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This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.

While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, 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, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

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