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It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)

The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.