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This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.

While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.