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It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)

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 best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.