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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by 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 surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.