Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox are showering praise on Gus, the canine star of their new romantic comedy, "Merv". The film, which premiered on Prime Video on December 10, 2025, revolves around Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox), a divorced couple who must navigate co-parenting their beloved dog, Merv, played by Gus. When Merv becomes despondent following their split, Anna and Russ are বাধ্য into an awkward arrangement, leading to a heartwarming and humorous journey.
The movie follows Anna and Russ as they try to revive Merv's spirits. Russ takes Merv on a trip to Florida, but Anna unexpectedly joins them. As Merv begins to recover, Anna and Russ might rediscover their own spark.
Deschanel, known for her roles in "Elf" and "New Girl," and Cox, recognized for his portrayal of Daredevil, attended a special screening of "Merv" in New York City on December 8, accompanied by Gus. The event was hosted by Elias Weiss Friedman of The Dogist.
Director Jessica Swale lauded the casting of Gus, a rescue dog found through a nationwide search, calling it "a good old Hollywood story". She also shared her positive experience filming in Wilmington, North Carolina, praising the cast and crew. The production utilized North Carolina's film incentives, which cover up to 25% of in-state spending.
Deschanel, a self-proclaimed "dog person" who recently adopted cats, humorously noted the ease of training dogs compared to cats for film work. Cox, stepping into the rom-com genre, credited Deschanel for guiding him, acknowledging her expertise in the field. He said, "Working with someone like Zooey, who's kind of like an expert in the field, was an opportunity to really kind of learn from the best".
Cox also praised Gus's professionalism on set, though he mentioned the dog's struggle with containing his enthusiasm. For scenes requiring unbridled energy, Gus's stunt double, an untrained dog named Captain Chaos, was brought in.
"Merv" was filmed primarily in Wilmington, North Carolina, with additional scenes shot on nearby beaches and in Miami, Florida. Principal photography took place from April to June 2024, capturing natural light for summer scenes and using artificial snow for winter scenes.
While the film incorporates Christmas elements, Deschanel doesn't consider it a traditional Christmas movie like "Elf". She noted that the holiday setting "just has some Christmas elements that make sense for the story". "It's of course a special time of year that often brings us together with family, so it is a good backdrop".
"Merv" also stars Patricia Heaton, Chris Redd, Victoria Blade, Wynn Everett, Ellyn Jameson, and Joey Slotnick. The film is produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Catchlight Studios, and Hurwitz Creative, with additional backing from LightWorkers Media and Matt Baer Films.
"Merv" dares to ask: what if you replaced the two Lindsay Lohans in The Parent Trap with one adorable but depressed pooch who desperately wants his two "pawrents" to get back together?. Despite the tagline promising "a different breed of romantic comedy," you pretty much know exactly what you'll get from Merv just by looking at the poster. But hey, it's still a pretty darn cute Christmas rom-com.
