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This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.