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It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.

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