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This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.