Merv (2025)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A broken-up couple's shared dog becomes the catalyst for a journey of reconciliation and hidden truths.
The story
Teacher Russ and optometrist Anna share weekly custody of their dog Merv since their break-up. However, Merv is diagnosed with a depression due to their break-up, upon which Russ takes him to a dog hotel in Florida. Believing he is still unhappy, Anna secretly travels after them. At the hotel, Merv's mood improves upon having his humans reunited. The three are invited to a party where Anna gets jealous of Russ's chemistry with the party's host Jocelyn, and Russ gets jealous of Jocelyn's brother flirting with Anna.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Teacher Russ and optometrist Anna share weekly custody of their dog Merv since their break-up. However, Merv is diagnosed with a depression due to their break-up, upon which Russ takes him to a dog hotel in Florida. Believing he is still unhappy, Anna secretly travels after them. At the hotel, Merv's mood improves upon having his humans reunited. The three are invited to a party where Anna gets jealous of Russ's chemistry with the party's host Jocelyn, and Russ gets jealous of Jocelyn's brother flirting with Anna. Russ brings up that he had proposed to Anna before their breakup. When visiting Russ's parents, they slowly start to reconcile. Russ rejects Jocelyn and confesses to Anna that he still loves her, but Anna is reluctant. It is revealed that Anna shut out Russ when she found out that she is infertile. After their trip, Russ leaves her sole custody of Merv, claiming they promised him one home and that they can't go on like this. Russ adopts a new dog from the shelter, who turns out to be depressed as well. At Christmas, they run into each other in the park and confess their love for each other and reconcile.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jessica Swale
- Writers
- Dane Clark · writer; Linsey Stewart · writer
- Cast and characters
- Zooey Deschanel · Anna Finch; Charlie Cox · Russ Owens; Chris Redd · Vice Principal Desmond; David Hunt · Jack Owens, Russ's father; Patricia Heaton · MJ Owens, Russ's mother; Ellyn Jameson · Jocelyn; Wynn Everett · Gaia; Jasmine Mathews · Rebekah
- Genres
- romantic comedy
- Themes
- reconciliation; fertility; grief; love
- Tone and mood
- romantic; emotional
- Premise and plot tags
- dog movie; romantic comedy; road trip
- Production trivia
- Filming transformed part of Princess Street into a snowy winter holiday season setup in the summer.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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