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It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw 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.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)

The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.