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It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.

Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.