Well, guys, it looks like Prime Video might have just saved the 2025 holiday season. Seriously. If you were looking for that perfect blend of sweet, silly, and slightly stressful romantic comedy, we’ve got the trailer you absolutely need to see right now.
The news recently broke that the utterly charming Zooey Deschanel and Marvel’s very own Daredevil, Charlie Cox, are starring together in a new Christmas movie called Merv.
Now, if you told me a few years ago that Matt Murdock and Jess Day would be falling in love over a depressed terrier mix, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are! The title, Merv, is actually the name of the dog—a poor little guy who is clearly the real star of the show, bless his heart.
The Most Awkward Custody Arrangement Ever
Let’s talk plot, because this is where things get just wonderful. Zooey plays Anna, and Charlie is Russ. They were a couple, of course, but now they are broken up. They’ve broken up, and they’re stuck in that supremely modern, supremely painful scenario: dog co-parenting. Honestly, who hasn’t been there, right?
But this isn’t just about handing the leash off in a dimly lit parking lot every Tuesday. No, no. Their beloved Merv, this adorable little pup, is so devastated by their split that he’s literally lost his spark. He’s depressed! He’s skipping treats and ignoring walks. What kind of monster breaks up and makes their dog sad? It’s a bit dramatic, maybe, but hey, it makes for a great movie premise.
Russ, played by Cox, decides the only cure for Merv’s winter blues is a “boys’ trip”—a sunshine getaway. So he packs Merv up and ditches cold, freezing Minnesota for a dog-friendly beach in Florida. Smart move, Russ. Very smart.
But you know how these rom-coms go. Anna, feeling guilty or maybe just missing her dog (or perhaps a little bit of both, who knows!), shows up unannounced. And suddenly, this simple, sun-drenched dog vacation turns into the most excruciatingly awkward, forced family holiday ever devised.
The trailer, which Prime Video just dropped, is full of those classic moments. You see Anna and Russ trying to pretend they’re totally fine while simultaneously fighting over whose turn it is to walk the dog or arguing about what kind of terrible motel they’ve ended up in.
Why This Movie Is Gonna Be Our Go-To
There’s something about the holiday rom-com formula that just works when you add a pet. It forces the two main characters—Anna and Russ—to focus on something bigger than their own heartbreak, doesn’t it? They have to work together, and that shared mission to fix Merv’s broken heart is obviously going to lead to them fixing their own. Is it predictable? Sure, maybe a little, but honestly, that’s what we want for Christmas!
The whole vibe is just so warm and feel-good. It looks like the perfect movie to stream on a cold December night with some hot cocoa, maybe curled up with your own dog. The release date is December 10, which means it’s coming out just when you’re starting to get tired of re-watching Elf for the tenth time. (Zooey was great in that one, too, to be fair.)
Are you ready to see Merv slowly get his groove back while Anna and Russ try to deny the sparks flying between them? Because I know I am. Get your Prime Video queue ready, folks, because the co-parenting chaos is about to begin.
What do you think about the movie? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all your favorite social media platforms for more must-see trailer news!
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Sources:
- www.movieweb.com/zooey-deschanel-charlie-cox-christmas-prime-video-merv-trailer/
- www.parade.com/tv/merv-zooey-deschanel-charlie-cox-holiday-rom-com
- www.geektyrant.com/news/zooey-deschanel-amp-charlie-cox-star-in-cute-trailer-for-primes-dog-centered-holiday-rom-com-merv
