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It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.

While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like 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 on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.