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This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.

Where the Film Shines

How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against 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's definitely a very good boy.)

Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.