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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.