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It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: 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 therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.