A triumphant holiday story, ‘Merv’, resonates with love and harmony

Content courtesy of Amazon MGM studios

Written By: Christopher L. Antie

Our furry friends are the gentle bridge to our togetherness.

December 10, 2025 -- Our fur babies have always been the gentle keepers of our hearts, especially during the most giving time of year. Amazon MGM Studios reminds us of what we’ve known all along — our pets often understand what we need long before we do. Beneath the heartaches we carry and the challenges we face with one another; they seem to sense the life we’re meant to live. Merv arrives as this season’s newest holiday film, wrapped in an extra coat of fur to keep us warm.

From director Jessica Swale comes a fresh holiday romantic comedy that blends heart, humor, and a whole lot of fur. Written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart, Merv stars Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox as exes thrust into the world’s most awkward co‑parenting arrangement when their beloved dog loses his spark after their split. Determined to help Merv find joy again, Russ whisks him away to Florida — only for Anna to appear unexpectedly, setting the stage for a sun‑soaked, emotionally tangled getaway. As Merv slowly gets his groove back, the journey reveals that healing a dog’s broken heart might just rekindle a few sparks of their own. Produced by Matthew Baer and Roma Downey, this PG‑rated, 105‑minute charmer delivers a warm, witty reminder that sometimes love needs a second chance — and a loyal companion to lead the way.

Hollywood has long known how to kindle our hearts with pet‑centered stories. Growing up, you’ve probably seen some of the industry’s most iconic animal‑driven films. But Merv sets a different standard. Merv himself shows us an emotion we don’t always recognize or talk about — sadness. It raises a natural question: Can a pet get depressed? While veterinary experts say there’s no clear percentage of pets who experience depression, many acknowledge that animals can show emotional changes when their routines or relationships shift. Merv taps into that very real bond — and the way our pets often mirror the heartaches we carry.

Love can shape a person’s life, and sometimes it makes our lives a little bumpy or cracked. As a couple, Will and I often found connection and resolution in the small things around us — especially in our dog. Our furry friend Sammie kept us moving and hugging even when we didn’t feel like it. He always seemed to know when we needed a warm heart to bring us back to our feet again.

Will and I had the joy of seeing Merv before the official release, and we immediately connected with the idea that the star of the evening wasn’t just a pet, but a companion who understood the human world of emotions better than we sometimes do. The dynamics and story of Merv were shaped beautifully. The performances, the locations, and the direction served the film extremely well, telling the story through the eyes of the pet himself.

Merv captures the quiet emotional intelligence our animals carry so effortlessly. There’s a gentle honesty to this film, a warmth that feels lived‑in rather than manufactured, and a perspective that lets a dog show us the cracks and reconciliations we sometimes miss in ourselves. It never pushes for sentiment; it simply lets the heart speak. And in true Chris & Will fashion, we walked away reminded of something we’ve learned time and time again — that the clearest reflections of who we are often come from the companions who walk beside us on four legs, nudging us toward love, harmony, and the courage to try again.

Merv is a 10‑out‑of‑10‑stars watch for your holiday programming — a film that brings the family back to the living room year after year. Merv is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Source: ChrisWill Media Christopher L. Antie and William Antie are podcast journalists who cover a wide range of topics across multiple industries. To learn more about Chris and Will, tune in to their podcast What About Our Life? on iHeartRadio, and visit chrisandwill.com.