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It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)

The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.