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It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)

Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.