Zooey Deschanel is getting back in the rom-com game
Deschanel is set to star in Merv, about a broken-up couple who go on vacation together because their dog is depressed
Aux News Deschanel
There’s been much talk, in recent years, about the fate of the humble romantic comedy, and which avatars of human affability—mixed with just enough caustic comedy, sexual tension, and straight-up farce—could genuinely resurrect the form. (And, arguably, the mid-budget comedy movie in general, which has not had an especially easy go of it in the franchise blockbuster era, despite recent moderate successes like Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney’s Anyone But You.) Now, one of the OGs is throwing her flowery crown back in the ring, with news that Zooey Deschanel has just signed on for a new rom-com titled Merv.
That’s right: Summer herself, of the infamous 500 Days, is getting back into the flirt/fight/farce mindset, signing on for a comedy about a couple who breaks up, but is then forced to take a Florida vacation together because their split is making their dog depressed. (We’re guessing said mournful pooch is Merv, unless, of course, Deschanel and her ex are both just fans of talk show hosts with a knack for creating enduring game shows that stand the test of time.) There’s no word yet on who’ll be starring opposite Deschanel, who most recently starred in Trolls Band Together, and stretched her rom-com legs pretty extensively during her eight years on New Girl on Fox, but they’ll have their work cut out for them matching her in the “Will they/won’t they/they did, and now they’re falling back in love so their dog won’t be sad” stakes.
Merv is being directed by Jessica Swale (Summerland, the Prime Video series Ten Percent), working off a script from Linsey Stewart and Dane Clark. The film is being produced for Amazon’s MGM Studios division.
28 Comments
That’s right: Summer herself, of the infamous 500 Days, is getting back into the flirt/fight/farce mindset…Somehow I misread all three words as “fart”.
I’d watch that.
She usually plays the same choice in the marry/fuck/kill game.
Wait, are we really referring to Zooey Deschanel as an “OG” of the rom-com genre?
Sure, she’s a rom-com OG for those without the ability to remember that there were films made prior to this century.
Romocs made prior to 2000 when everything was in black and white don’t count, only colorized ones.
Yeah, everyone knows You’ve Got Mail was a love letter to the internet itself.
That one was a silent flick, right?
Would’ve been more watchable if it was.
I hear that if the writers acknowledge the existence of films made prior to this century then the gems Spanfeller implanted in their left palms start flashing red.‘Course, they all gladly agreed to the implants because Logan’s Run was made in 1976.
i don’t know anything she was in besides that tv show.
But even in this century she’s only made 2! It’s not as if she’s made a career out of them. (And one of the two was horrible.)
Also, Anyone But You is not a moderate success but rather an actual box office phenomenon. AV Club: just saying whatever now.
For any AV club writers, that’s Jack Quaids mom , she was in movies , some of them quite good.
The best rom-com(Annie Hall) is older than Zoey.
I mean , if you were maybe 23 , that would be your view I guess
Didn’t Lucy Hale & Grant Gustin already kinda do this movie?
‘”Didn’t Lucy Hale & Grant Gustin already kinda do this movie?”’Oh you’re talking about:Puppy love, right?
Yep, that’s the one!
They’re both just The Parent Trap with a dog instead of twins.
This better star the big man himself:
Does this also mean that her sister with get back to solving crimes with a (possibly ex-) vampire?
Excuse me
Look, I know “couple” is technically a singular noun, but:“…a couple who breaks up, but is then forced to take a Florida vacation together because their split is…”is all kinds of horrible to read.
Reads normal to me. Are you trying to apply logic to the English language, foolish mortal?
Rom-com game? You mean like those weird Japanese video games that are “dating simulators”?
I’m all for Wayne Knight getting work.