After much speculation and over a year of waiting, the fan-funded movie based on that little show that just can’t be stopped, Veronica Mars, has finally arrived. Created by Rob Thomas and aired on the UPN Network in 2004, it’s about a teenage private investigator living in Neptune, California, dealing with all sorts of drama. But after tons of “network drama”, the UPN which turned into The CW, and the show was cancelled in 2007. Thought to be dead, slowly word spread about maybe a movie to continue Veronica’s story. And with that, creator Rob Thomas and star Kristen Bell lead the most successful kickstarter in movie history, earning over 5.7 million dollars, after only asking for 2. The movie that has been paid for by the fans is finally ready for them and the world to see just who is Veronica Mars.
The movie picks up ten years after the season three final. Veronica (Kristen Bell) has left Neptune and is living in New York, finishing law school and interviewing to be a very high paid and powerful lawyer. Her life seems to be on track: good job, away from Neptune, and living a normal life with her boyfriend Stoch “Piz” Piznarski (Chris Lowell). All seems well in the life of Veronica, she has moved on from her days as a teenage P.I. and she feels her life is better for it. But just like in the Godfather, you’re never really out, and she gets pulled back into old habits when her ex-boyfriend, Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring) is accused of murder. She’s asked to return home to Neptune and help clear his name. Sending her on “one last mission” before she can close this chapter in her life.
The movie is written and directed by creator Rob Thomas himself, this is coming from the very source that created the show from the start. So fans don’t have to feel scared or worried about their beloved characters being treated wrong. Everything that happens in the movie is motivated and completely makes sense. There is never a moment where you as a fan feel, “oh, that would never happen”. Everything is how it should be.
Even for people who have never seen the show, Thomas does a wonderful job right up front in the first 5 minutes, letting you get caught up in a way that you can jump right in and just enjoy this without needing all the backstory to each character. If you happened to know all that character history, the movie is that much better, but it doesn’t hurt the experience if you don’t know. There are few spoilers here and there, giving away some details from the show, so if you haven’t seen some of the seasons, there are some insider information said that might ruin something here and there, but they are kept pretty vague over all.
What is really amazing for this movie is that all the filmmakers, creators, and cast wanted to make this. They loved making the show and wanted to continue to do so. About 95% of cast were on the show, and here they return to their same characters so many years later. You see old adversaries, old loves, and some great old friends that you’d hoped where in the movie, and they are. All the favorites are back: Percy Daggs III (Wallace), Tina Majorino (Mac), Ryan Hansen (Dick), Francis Capra (Weevil) and of course, Enrico Colantoni as Veronica’s father, Keith. Even some awesome surprise cameos happen along the way, which just makes the movie that much more special. Each character is brought back in a natural way that feels real. Never once did you feel anyone was forced into the movie just to have them there.
What has always made Veronica Mars stand out, aside from the writing and character development, is the wonderful portrayal by Kristen Bell. She is Veronica Mars. She is a strong willed, funny, self reliant young woman who can stand up for herself and takes no BS. She is a great role model. Now she has her moments where you feel like screaming “what are you doing?”, but that’s what makes her so much fun. She’s flawed like the rest of us. She is a real character that Bell brings such life to, just as Enrico Colantoni does as Veronica’s father, Keith. He also breathes life into his character. And when they are on screen together, it feels like a real, normal relationship. Some of the best scenes in the movie are watching them act. It really brings the whole movie together.
Most things you want are answered, in some form, but Thomas is such a genius at writing these characters, that even when you feel closure, there’s a small part of you that knows that’s not where it ends. He even planted little seeds within this film, so if there was such a case where this gets another movie as a series, we have that story already building within this one. As they say, “always leave them with wanting more”. Well, Mr. Thomas, more is definitely wanted.
As someone who helped fund the movie and being a huge fan of the show, this is exactly the movie I wanted. Everything it does is great and keeps with the feel of the show you love. That’s why the fans paid for it. We paid for what we wanted, and everything we got was better than what was expected. The movie is enjoyable whether you’re a fan or not, the movie works just fine on its own, but if you are a fan, you’ve hit the jackpot. Great acting, terrific writing, and an overall great movie experience, this is one of the best of 2014. Not only because of the fan base, and being a fan, but because the filmmakers made a good movie. And in a world of re-makes and sequels, something like this can stand above the rest and take a well-earned bow.