Director: Rob Thomas
Cast: Kristen Bell, Erinco Colantoni, Jason Dohring, Tina Marjorino, Percy Daggs III, Ryan Hansen, Chris Lowell, Francis Capra
Plot: Veronica Mars has moved away from Neptune and the private eye business, setting up a new life with college boyfriend Piz and law school. On the eve of entering the real world she finds herself back in Neptune and faced with a new mystery. Logan’s girlfriend, a famous pop singer, has been murdered and he’s the prime suspect.
Review: I don’t think there is one single TV cancellation that I found as crushing as Veronica Mars. Yes, even more than Firefly. While the space cowboys were in their infancy the adventures of the school aged detective had proven itself over the course of three seasons. The characters were long established, grown and developed and still had more story to tell. And then it was taken off our screens to make way for Who Wants to be the Next Pussycat Doll, a cultural milestone that will no doubt outlive us all.
Veronica Mars (the show) was tightly crafted, driven by interesting characters and packed with solid mysteries that more often than not pulled the rug out from under us. Even the Almighty Joss Whedon geek-gushed about it, appearing as a cameo along with the many other stars lining up for parts. After many false starts and rumours of a movie or a fourth season it was all but done – until showrunner Rob Thomas put it on Kickstarter. After breaking all the records (and proving that the rabid fans were even willing to put down cash for a potential product) the movie went in to production and today was downloaded onto my computer as part of the reward for being a backer.
And now it’s time to reflect on this long awaited continuation of one of the greatest television shows in history. Please don’t be another Arrested Development season 4.
The movie opens with a stylistic montage of the events of the show, presumably for those newcomers who have heard about this Veronica Mars thing and decided to check it out. They bring us up to speed on the murder of Lily Kane and the subsequent fall out (carefully avoiding spoilers for those yet to catch up on the show), and the history of the major players. This sequence then turns out to be a complete waste of time because gate-crashers don’t feel welcome at this reunion. Past events are frequently referred to – as in every scene – without context or even much reason. Everyone from the series…and to clarify we mean Gary-Oldman-screaming-EVERYONE-in-Leon everyone…turns up for the movie. Not just the people who appear in the opening credits but every single named character they could get hold off. For the first hour it felt like we were running through a checklist of obscure characters and references as Deputy Leon, Madison Sinclair, Cliff McCormack, Celeste Kane, Vinnie Van Low and Principal Van Clemmons all step in to say a line or two.
Don’t get me wrong, it is a bunch of fun seeing them all turning out and a school reunion side story wouldn’t be the same without them. But the reunion subplot feels like an excuse to bring everyone back rather than something that’s needed move the story forward. It’s not until the first hour is done that we really start getting our teeth into the mystery and we’re well into the third act before the stakes feel raised. A heavy theme throughout the movie is Veronica deciding whether or not she really wants to leave the world of intrigue and bloodshed behind and have a normal, successful life. This is an important part of the character that is needed to motivate our leading lady. But we also have an interesting murder mystery that we want to get drawn in to. It would be ideal if these two elements – Veronica’s inability to stay away from trouble and the unfolding mystery – could be married together. Instead we get the bulk of the ‘returning home’ thread in the first half and the murder conspiracy in the second.
Although this may not be a popular opinion, some of the fan service should have been benched. I loved seeing them back but it got in the way of the story. The first half of the movie would have been better spent setting up the characters who would be essential to the mystery and further developing the subplot about police corruption. This was a good concept, and could represent Veronica taking back her town but it needed room to grow and feel like a major threat. The new Sheriff is basically a stand in for the former Don Lamb (the new character is his brother, Dan Lamb) and their widespread corruption only gets a mention once or twice an act. Weevil appears in the movie but seemingly only to take part in this plot for about 5 minutes. If the series is picked up again (fingers crossed) this looks to be a major part of the show, but in the stand alone movie it feels cursory.
So there’s some problems with the plotting and excessive fan service (I will at this point go on the record as saying that I laughed heartily at the reference to the half-episode of Veronica Mars in the FBI that didn’t get picked up) but when the movie finds it’s rhythm it dances to the tune we know and love. The characters feel like they’ve walked out off the old series without missing a beat and when the case really gets going it feels like the classics. Maybe not one of the best stories but certainly close. All the players and elements that made the show so much fun are back on the screen. Veronica and Keith are still one of the best parent/child relationships ever written for television, Logan is still the damaged pit of rage we want to catch a break and Dick is still Dick.
By the end of the movie it all comes together with a chime of satisfaction. Best of all everything is all lined up so if a new series or another movie does eventuate the ball won’t even need a push. Fans of the show will be happy to find Veronica Mars essentially where they left it even if it takes a little while to get there.
The formula hasn’t changed but we wouldn’t have backed the Kickstarter if we wanted something different. Fans of the show should find this a pleasant return to form for the cast and crew. We hope to see more in the future without the pre-lude ‘where are they now’ plot holes to fill in. Those unfamiliar with the series would do well to go and get caught up before checking out the film. Actually, do that anyway. It’s awesome.
Score: SEVEN outta TEN.
