2025   Amazon MGM Studios

Rated:  PG

Length:  1 hr  45min

Christmas ~ Comedy ~ Romance

Directed by:  Jessica Swale

Starring: Charlie Cox , Zooey Deschanel, Chris Redd, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt and Gus The Real Life Rescue Dog turned Actor as Merv!

A Different Breed Of Romantic Comedy!

Merv, I mean Gus’s, story:

Merv is played by Gus, a real life rescue dog. Discovered as a stray in dire straits, possibly hit by a car, shot at, and even strangled with a shoelace, Gus was just around 10 months old when Houston-area rescuers from groups like Houston K-911 found him in horrific condition in 2018 or so. Severely emaciated, disfigured, and battling multiple injuries including bullet fragments, he faced a long road of medical treatments for infections, trauma, and emotional scars, but his resilient spirit shone through.​

With global support funding his recovery, Gus transformed into a healthy, joyful dog, eventually landing a forever home and becoming an ambassador for strays—earning accolades like American Hero Dog from the American Humane Society. Trained via agencies like Urban Paws, his natural charm and soulful expressiveness made him perfect for Merv, where director Jessica Swale highlighted his authentic reactions over scripted tricks.

Merv’s Take On The Movie:

Merv has a problem: his owners have split up and are trying to co-parent from different households, shuffling him back and forth like a furry football every week. It has left him thoroughly depressed, curled up in the corner of his Boston apartment with those soulful puppy eyes, ignoring his squeaky toys amid piles of pizza boxes and scattered laundry, while his dad (Charlie Cox) paces awkwardly and his mom (Zooey Deschanel) forces a smile during tense handoffs.​

But when Merv’s moping reaches epic lows, refusing walks and staring mournfully out rainy windows, his humans hatch a plan: a road trip to a sunny Florida dog resort packed with beach yoga, splashy pool parties, and wild golf cart escapades that finally loosen them up. Snowy slush melts into palm-fringed paradise, where Merv’s tail starts thumping as sunset strolls and clumsy ex-dates reignite the chemistry his nose always knew was still there—plus, endless treats and belly rubs don’t hurt, echoing Gus’s own triumphant recovery from trauma to tail-wags that landed him this star turn.​​

Merv says, “From my floppy-eared vantage point the chaos is pure gold: Chris Redd’s over-the-top antics chasing me around, Patricia Heaton‘s sassy but loving vibes dishing advice, and my own breakout moments with zoomies across the sand and heartfelt stares that tug every heartstring, Gus’s natural expressiveness, honed from his hero-dog ambassadorship, steals every scene without a single trick. Director Jessica Swale captures the pet-parent pandemonium perfectly in this breezy rom-com, layering holiday cheer with themes of unconditional love and fresh starts, all without dipping into sappy territory, backed by upbeat montages and bark-along tunes.”

And you know what Bobby says:

Turn off the lights and devices,

Make some popcorn,

Grab a beverage,

and Stream This Movie

on Prime!