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This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.