Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox Reveal Their Favorite Rom-Coms (Exclusive)

Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox enjoy a romantic — and funny — love story.

The actress, 45, and the actor, 43, star in the new rom-com Merv, and they tell PEOPLE in an exclusive interview that they are fans of specific films in the romantic-comedy genre.

“When Harry Met Sally is obviously a classic,” Deschanel says, referring to the 1989 film starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.

“I’m really a big fan of screwball comedies that are the original rom-com: It Happened One Night, Bringing Up Baby, The Awful Truth, Philadelphia Story,” she continues.

As for Cox, he says he loves America’s Sweethearts, starring Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Cusack and Crystal, among others.

“My very first trip to America, when I was 17, I went to an American movie theater and saw that film, and it’s kind of a core memory for me,” the Daredevil: Born Again star says of the 2001 project.

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Merv, a Prime Video rom-com, follows a recently separated couple who take their dog on a trip to raise his saddened spirits amid the holidays.

Deschanel and Cox star opposite Chris Redd, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt, Ellyn Jameson, Wynn Everett and more, and the titular canine in Merv, meanwhile, is played by a dog named Gus, a wire-haired terrier rescue.

According to Deschanel, she was excited to sign on to Merv because of its romantic comedy storyline.

“I love rom-coms. For some reason, it seemed like people weren’t making them very much for a while, I just wasn’t seeing them,” the New Girl alum tells PEOPLE. “I was just so excited to see a really great rom-com with these complex characters, and just a way to tell this sweet breakup and makeup story with a little bit of holiday and a little bit of puppy love.”

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As for Cox? One thing was a big draw for him: “Zooey.” He explains, “I’ve been a huge fan of her for my whole career, and I haven’t worked in this genre at all, so if I’m going to get that opportunity, being able to learn from the best, that’s the way to do it.”

Merv — which is directed by Jessica Swale and features a script crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart — is available to watch now on Prime Video.