Merv

It's Festive Friday and we've got a heartwarming rom-com!

When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna and Russ are forced into the world's most awkward co-parenting arrangement.

December 10, 2025 | Theatrical Release

Director: Jessica Swale

Cast:

• Zooey Deschanel as Anna Finch
• Charlie Cox as Russ Owens
• Ellyn Jameson

We meet Merv, a dog owned by Russ and Anna. The problem is Russ and Anna are no longer together, so Merv bounces back and forth between them. Russ is a teacher and Anna is an eye doctor. But bad news - Merv doesn't seem to be doing well. They meet up to bring him to the vet to check on him. Turns out, he's depressed.

Russ decides he's gonna take Merv on a sunny vacation. That'll cheer him up. Turns out, it doesn't. So Anna decides to join them by just showing up.

Merv's mood begins to improve now that his people are together. They all go to a dog party and Anna gets jealous of Russ's chemistry with the party's host Jocelyn, and Russ gets jealous of Jocelyn's brother flirting with Anna. A dog healer is at the party - basically a dog psychic. It doesn't go well and it leads to Anna deciding she's going to leave. He convinces her to stay longer and good thing he did cuz they start having a real good time! They end up going to visit his family and it goes well. He tells her he proposed to her because he loved her, not to try to fix things.

Back at the dog resort, Russ goes to hang out with Jocelyn and she ends up kissing him but he pulls away. Why? Because he still loves Anna. So he goes to drink by himself and falls asleep on the beach. He wakes up trying to find Merv but he's nowhere to be found until Anna walks up on the beach with him. He found her.

They hash things out about why they broke up - he explains how she shut him out when she found out that she is infertile. She explains that she forgot how much fun they had together and this trip has reminded her of this. She asks if they can start over but Russ isn't sure if he can do that again. What if things go bad again?

After their trip, Russ leaves her sole custody of Merv because he thinks one home will make Merv happier.

Russ is sad. So he decides to go to the shelter and get a new dog and get some glasses. He's still sad, so he takes his dog for a walk, and wouldn't you know it - they bump into Anna and Merv. They make up and tell each other that they love each other and they kisssssss.

Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtube

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