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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)

The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.