Zooey Deschanel didn’t set out to make a holiday film — but her new movie Merv has quickly become one of the season’s most charming Christmas releases.
“I honestly didn’t think it was a Christmas movie when I first read the script. I thought it was a rom-com with a dog, and I was totally happy to do that,” Deschanel, 45, told Us Weekly exclusively ahead of the film’s Wednesday, December 10 premiere. “Then I realized, ‘Oh, it’s actually set at Christmas!’”
Deschanel explained that while Merv carries a warm, festive spirit, viewers shouldn’t expect the traditional trappings found in her 2003 holiday classic Elf. “It’s not the kind of Christmas movie with elves and Santa Claus and reindeer,” she said. “Christmas is just a sprinkling — an added element. What I love is that it has Christmas, but it’s still something you could watch any time of the year.”
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Instead, the holiday backdrop deepens the emotional core of Merv, which follows exes Anna (played by Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) as they attempt to coparent their beloved dog after breaking up. When they discover that Merv is suffering from depression — and a vet even jokingly mentions “Xanax” — the two reluctantly agree to put their differences aside for the sake of their furry companion.
Why Christmas Raises the Emotional Stakes in Zooey Deschanel’s New Film ‘Merv’
Director Jessica Swale told Us Weekly that setting Merv during Christmas naturally raises the emotional stakes for both the characters and the audience. “The joy of placing a story at Christmas — using the holiday as a backdrop — is that everything feels a little more intense,” she explained. “Being lonely or going through a breakup during the festive season is much harder than experiencing it in the middle of summer, when everything isn’t centered around love, family and togetherness.”
Swale added that the holiday atmosphere gives actors richer material to work with. “It adds an extra level of stakes,” she said. “It turns up the heat underneath the drama.”
Zooey Deschanel agreed, noting that viewers feel more empathy during the holidays. “If you picture a guy alone on a random Tuesday night, you’re like, ‘Meh,’” she joked. “But imagine a guy alone on Christmas? Suddenly it’s, ‘Oh no!’”
In Merv, all three main characters — Anna, Russ, and their dog Merv — are struggling with loneliness after the breakup. Their emotional rut shifts when Russ and Merv head to Florida for a stay at a doggie dream hotel, with Anna eventually joining them. The sunny getaway gives Anna and Russ space to address their unresolved issues, while Merv is surrounded by plenty of canine companions to lift his spirits and Zooey Deschanel.
‘Merv’ Director Reveals the Hilarious Dog Chaos Behind Zooey Deschanel’s New Movie
Filming Merv didn’t always result in the most orderly shooting days, director Jessica Swale admitted, but the unpredictability brought plenty of joy. Many scenes featured as many as 20 to 30 dogs — most of whom were not trained performers.
“They definitely didn’t have Gus’ discipline,” Swale joked, referring to the dog who plays Merv. “He’s the Hollywood star. The rest were a bit more rogue, so things could get pretty wild on set.”
She recalled one dog yoga scene in particular as especially chaotic. “We had a group of trainers behind the camera all trying to signal to different dogs at the same time,” she said. “And the dogs were staring back like, ‘A whole sea of people making hand signals — where am I supposed to look?’ It was wonderfully chaotic.”
Zooey Deschanel Shares Why Filming at ‘Dog Beach’ Was a Joy — Even for a Cat Mom
Director Jessica Swale came prepared for the chaos by designing the film’s doggie hotel — fittingly named Dog Beach — as a relaxed, open environment where pups could simply be themselves. “It’s meant to feel like a real vacation spot where people bring their pets from all over the country,” she explained. “So it only made sense that the dogs were allowed to just be dogs.”
Zooey Deschanel, however, joked that a dog resort has never exactly been on her bucket list. A proud cat mom, she shared that while she hasn’t taken dogs on holiday, she has traveled with her cats — an experience her kids, Elsie Otter, 10, and Charlie Wolf, 10, absolutely loved. Deschanel shares both children with her ex-husband, Jacob Pechenik.
“The cats were totally happy, and my kids were like, ‘Cat vacations are the best vacations!’” she said with a laugh. “They loved having the cats with us.”
How Zooey Deschanel’s Cats Helped Her Family Through Crisis — and Why She Loves Holiday Traditions
Deschanel shared that her cats have been a source of comfort during some of her family’s toughest moments, including when she and her children had to evacuate their home during the Los Angeles fires earlier this year. “We were all squeezed into a tiny hotel room, and the cats were being so cute and so sweet,” she recalled. “They snuggled with us every night. My little white one would purr so loudly under my chin that she actually kept me awake — but it was incredibly sweet.”
Those cozy moments with the family pets are just one of the many activities Deschanel cherishes with her kids, especially around Christmas.
“One of my favorite parts of the holiday is listening to Christmas music, singing Christmas songs and singing with groups,” the She & Him singer told Us. “It’s such a fun and meaningful way to connect with people.”
She added that she grew up baking and decorating cookies during the holidays — a tradition she has happily passed on to her children. “I love doing that with my kids,” she said. “It’s really fun.”
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