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This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.

While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

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