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Merv

Merv

Comedy · Romance · 2025

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. Hoping to shake Merv out of his funk, Russ takes him to Florida for a much-needed getaway-only for Anna to show up unexpectedly. As Merv slowly gets his groove back, turns out fixing their dog's broken heart may lead to a few sparks of their own.

Movie details

Merv

“A different breed of romantic comedy.”

2025 Comedy · Romance 1h 45m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.9 / 10

Community rating

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. Hoping to shake Merv out of his funk, Russ takes him to Florida for a much-needed getaway-only for Anna to show up unexpectedly. As Merv slowly gets his groove back, turns out fixing their dog's broken heart may lead to a few sparks of their own.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Merv?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jessica Swale

Written by

Dane Clark · Linsey Stewart

Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel

Anna Finch

Charlie Cox

Charlie Cox

Russ Owens

Ellyn Jameson

Ellyn Jameson

Jocelyn Bentley

Patricia Heaton

Patricia Heaton

MJ Owens

David Hunt

David Hunt

Jack Owens

Chris Redd

Chris Redd

Vice Principal Desmond

Jasmine Mathews

Jasmine Mathews

Rebekah

Court is in session

Put Merv on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Popcorn Loyalist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.