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This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.

While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Human Element

This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.