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It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.

Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.