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It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.