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This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)

The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.