by Henry Pham
This movie is not under my radar, but Christmas movies are my thing, as Christmas is my favorite holiday ever. Merv marks filmmaker Jessica Swale’s Hollywood feature film debut as film director. It is a 2025 romantic comedy film that follows a separated couple who is forced to co-parent their dog, Merv, who is depressed about their split, over the course of the holidays. They reunite for an awkward “cheer-up trip” to Florida in hopes of helping their dog. However, as they do so, they end up rekindling their own romance in the process.
The film offers more than a typical romantic comedy, addressing themes such as loneliness, depression, rekindled relationships, and the importance of togetherness during the holidays. Zooey Deschanel (Fox’s New Girl) and Charlie Cox (Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again) deliver strong performances as Anna and Rush, a recently separated couple whose dog, Merv (the titular character), is affected by their split. Anna is an eye doctor, and Russ is a teacher. Their on-screen chemistry is a highlight, with Cox bringing notable charm and Deschanel adding emotional depth, drawing on her experience in the previous holiday film, Elf (co-starring with Will Ferrell).
The story of Merv borrows some elements from The Parent Trap and Marley & Me. Directed by Swale, who also cameos in the film, and distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, the film faced challenges on its path to release. The production quality and the filmmakers’ ability to convey emotional moments, particularly those involving the dog, are central to the film’s impact. While Merv is positioned as the main attraction, the narrative primarily focuses on the human characters and their relationship. The Florida holiday setting offers a refreshing alternative to the typical big-city backdrop (like New York, Chicago, etc.), despite most filming taking place in North Carolina. The Merv character is cute and endearing. However, the abundance of holiday humor sometimes detracts from the film’s overall effectiveness, and the climax feels forced.
With 105 minutes of holiday adventures for dog lovers and couples, Merv has a cute titular character, with a cute (though formulaic) plot line, but the holiday humor falls flat. It is intended for those who love Christmas movies and dogs, but not many others. I know not many people, especially couples and dog lovers, can appreciate this movie due to its critical quality and having the added humor in the mix. Newer Christmas movies are hard to please sometimes. Deschanel and Cox are great, on the other hand. If you’re looking for a different kind of Christmas movie, you’re in for a real treat (literally, if you’re a dog or dog lover). But otherwise, I would rather go back to watch some good old Christmas movies from the past. The film is up on Amazon Prime Video.
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