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It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)

The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

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