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It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Human Element

The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

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