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It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.

While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.