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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.

Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.