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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.

Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)

The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.