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It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.

While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.