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It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.

While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)

The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.