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This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.

While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)

Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. 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 great one either.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.