Merv

Currently Only in Theaters

Runtime: 1 Hours 47 Minutes

Rated PG

“I am fully aware of how unexpected and unconventional my being here might be for you.”

A separated couple, Russ and Anna, learn that the dog (Merv) they share is depressed because they broke up. Russ ends up taking Merv on a boy’s trip to a swanky dog beach resort. Anna follows along, without Russ’s permission, and they are forced to work through their breakup and differences.

Themes:

Breaking up, dog ownership, responsibility, love, family, custody, vacation, doggy depression, custody, pet resorts, sharing, getting along, relationships, complications, rekindling flames, trauma, infertility, working through problems, teamwork, moving on, second chances, and making hard decisions.

Language:

Sh*t - 1 Religious Exclamations - 11

One character says, '“son of a…” but she doesn’t finish the statement. One character says, “screw Russ.”

Stuff to be aware of:

Sexual - A dog treat is referred to as a “penis thing.” A girl asks her teacher if his girlfriend ran off with someone. A woman talks about attractive features a man has, such as his lips. The description stays G-rated.

One character says, “he buttered my bread,” and another character misunderstands and says, “That’s what I’m talking about.” However, it is literal. He buttered a piece of bread.

One character mentions, “slutty seniors.” There is some salsa dancing, but nothing too lude.

Violence/Gore - None

Other - Two people are offered “drinks,” and in the next scene, they are playing ping pong in a crazy way. In a scene that takes place in a hot tub, two characters drink from a bottle of something alcoholic. Two characters drink beer together. There is alcohol and drinking throughout the film.

Overall:

Seeing It With Your Family

This one is pretty tame and family-friendly, outside of a couple of innuendo jokes (which will likely go over kids’ heads) and the mention of a penis. There is a side story that deals with a woman not being able to have children. This isn’t talked about much until the end of the movie, but might be good to know for some. The one curse word is toward the end of the film and is so fast you’ll almost miss it.

I could see this being a bit hard to sit through for younger viewers. It is a slower movie.

What I Thought

This is a cute rom-com that felt different than most. The story beats feel a bit different than any rom-com I have seen before, and it is cheesy at times, but not Hallmark-level cheesy. It is fun and worth watching. I foresee it being watched multiple times in our home. It won’t likely be winning any awards or become a big hit, but it has heart. It’s relatable, has some humor, and Charlie Cox and Zoey Deschanel work well together. It is predictable, but in a good way.

This is one I would suggest for family movie night, especially if you have preteen and teen girls.