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It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Human Element

The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)

The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.