Rob Thomas' show "Veronica Mars" only ran for three seasons, two of which were on a network (UPN) that no longer exists. It never won any major awards or received thunderous acclaim, yet like "Arrested Development" and "Firefly" before it, the neo-noir drama gained an enormous cult following — so much that six years after the final episode aired, a Kickstarter for a film version reached its goal within days. While "Veronica Mars" the movie may not garner new fans, it's a thoroughly satisfying product for those of us who never forgot the plucky detective who fought crime and pursued justice, quipping all the way.
After a brief recap of Veronica's transition from popular high school student to sleuthing misanthrope who ultimately walked away from it all to start anew, it's established that Veronica (Kristen Bell) is now living in New York, on the verge of taking the bar exam and interviewing at a white-collar law firm. She has a steady, drama-free relationship with Piz (Chris Lowell) and life is sweet — until Veronica receives a phone call from ex-boyfriend and semi-reformed bad boy Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring, who still knows how to smolder). Still living in Southern California, Logan's been accused of his pop-star girlfriend's murder, and though he and Veronica haven't spoken in nine years, he wants her help. Ignoring the protests of her boyfriend and her father (Enrico Colantoni), Veronica heads back to Neptune, her not-so-idyllic hometown still rife with corruption and old wounds.
"Veronica Mars" takes the form of an extended television episode, albeit one with swear words and a tiny bit more skin. Most major and minor characters from the series appear at some point, but their presence often feels organic rather than contrived. A few new faces, such as Gaby Hoffmann playing an obsessive fan of Logan's murdered love, have fun with their place in the Neptune-iverse, supplemented by well-placed celebrity cameos.
In large part, "Veronica Mars" works because of Thomas' steady hand (he both co-wrote the screenplay and directed). He knows what the fans want: plenty of references to the series; "Veronica's" trademark style, which combines snappy dialogue with strong emotional depth and a very real sense of danger; and, of course, the ongoing "will they or won't they" tension between Veronica and Logan, built on Bell and Dohring's still-sizzling chemistry.
Thomas' unique approach to storytelling, combined with Bell's can-do charisma, are what gave the series such a lasting impact, and both carry over to the "Veronica Mars" movie. In a culture when savvy and complex female characters are still in tragically short supply, Veronica continues to be a force of nature. When the TV series was still on the air, I was a depressed law student. I used to tell myself, "If Veronica can survive date rape, her best friend's murder and constant brushes with death, I can get through today." Though I'm in a much happier place now, my love of the character and her universe remain, and I can say with confidence that fellow Marshmallows are in for a treat.
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