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It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

How these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.