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This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.

While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Human Element

This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)

Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.