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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)

Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.