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This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)

The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.