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This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.

While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, the work of 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 corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.

Where the Film Shines

How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.

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