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It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.

While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)

Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Prime Video this December.