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It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.