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It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.