Veronica Mars (2014)

A Disappointing Continuation

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

"When the class war starts, it will start here in Neptune"??? Really? I see Veronica Mars is still the same liberal moronic drivel that it always was. Rich/white men are basically scumbags and cops are corrupt, racist idiots. You know how the rest goes. Get a job Kirsten Bell, a real one that you actually have talent for. That goes for the rest of the cast as well.

It's difficult to write about this movie without constantly referencing the television show. And I'm not sure how this movie would work without the three years of the context and background fans of Veronica Mars have. The movie covers a lot of ground - bringing characters back to Neptune, the inevitable character reunions, father/daughter moments, and a new mystery. And I'm sure non-fans could get frustrated by the many plot holes that come from trying to squeeze so much into 107 minutes. Compare that to the series where, especially in the first two seasons, the writers had hours and hours of airtime to introduce characters, establish plot, set-up conflict, and, in general, tell a story. I guess what I'm trying to say is that as a fan, I knew what to expect and had a built in bias going in.The amazing thing for me is how well it all works. It's like the show never went off the air. Just fast forward a few years and you're right back in the world of Neptune, CA. Sure, it would have been preferable for the plot to be stronger and tighter, but who cares? For a Veronica Mars fan, this is the ultimate "feel good" movie. An 8/10 from me.

I only began the binge watch of the show Veronica Mars in late October and finished in less than 2 months so I can see the film as fast as possible. Does it live up to expectations? Absolutely. Does it do the show and the fans justice? Absolutely. I don't know that I could have pictured a better feature film adaptation from one of the best shows of the 2000's. Not only did they manage to bring back every single beloved character from the series but each of them felt like they actually meant something to the overall story arc. There just aren't many negatives.It starts off by showing Veronica in New York ready to take a job at a well known firm and still with college boyfriend Piz. It's worth mentioning how likable each of these characters are. Even the ones that manage to always get themselves into trouble you tend to have a soft spot for and that's a credit to the writers. The story takes a turn for the worse when believe it or not ex-boyfriend Logan Echolls calls for Veronica's help. He once again needs to be cleared for murder and Veronica is the only one to take the case. Enter Keith Mars, who still lives in Neptune, and has one of the best on screen father-daughter duos with Veronica. I cant tell you how many great one liners the two of them share throughout the series and now film.Of course we get short appearances from Weevil, Mac, Dick, and Wallace. And there's even a fight sequence that I can only assume was put in just for the fans, but nonetheless excellent cinema. I appreciate just how many things are put in strictly for hardcore fans. I wouldn't say I know the show better than most, but seeing the show beforehand definitely gives you a better appreciation. The actual villains aren't necessarily important. What's important is that Veronica and Logan are on screen together again, and are peacefully communicating for the most part. Anybody who watched the show will love the film and I can only hope there are more to come. The ending leaves the door open for future stories and hey if it's done by kick starter again, I will contribute.+Overwhelming amount of fan service +EVERYBODY is back +Great character drama +Leaves the door open 9.5/10

I must confess that I've seen only a few episodes of "Veronica Mars," the cult series that ran on cable TV from 2004 to 2007. I make that declaration right up front merely to emphasize that I come to the movie version largely unencumbered by any pre-conceived notions of what it ought to be.The movie picks up nine years after the close of the series. Veronica Mars, the famous teen private eye who worked out of her dad's PI office through most of high school, has long ago put away her amateur sleuthing in favor of law school, with the hope of securing a promising job with a prestigious law firm in New York City. However, when her ex- boyfriend (Jason Dohring) is charged with killing his celebrity girlfriend, Veronica returns to her hometown of Neptune, California, to help clear his name and find the actual culprit.For fans of the show, the movie version of "Veronica Mars" is clearly the equivalent of old home week, giving devotees a chance to catch up with old friends, seeing how much they've changed and finding out what they've all been up to since last they checked in on them. Indeed, it is nearly impossible to overstate the emotional pull and feeling of connection that often come with serialized television shows. For non- fans, however, the movie can't possibly generate nearly as much interest or affection, and the call-backs and in-jokes are lost on that particular segment of the audience. Moreover, the murder mystery plot that director Rob Thomas and his co- writer Diane Ruggiero have come up with is serviceable at best and boring at worst. Kristen Bell is captivating and winning as the clever and feisty Veronica, and she is aided by a bevy of subsidiary performers who have clearly grown quite comfortable in the roles they're playing. However, fun as it obviously was for the actors to re-unite on this project, that sense of fun doesn't always translate to the screen. Indeed, there's a decided lack of urgency and passion in the production, one that makes us wonder if it might not have been better to have simply let "Veronica Mars" rest in peace.