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It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)

The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Prime Video this December.