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This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.

Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Prime Video this December.