Veronica Mars (2014) Film Review

Well Marshmallows, Veronica is back in true-form ready to please her fans.. but possibly not for anyone new.

Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

The film picks up with Veronica (Kristen Bell) in New York, applying for a job with a big lawyer company (in which Jamie Lee Curtis is boss).  Mars has left her intensive investigations in Neptune behind. Turns out though, she is not whole yet despite garnering all the success she wants along with  having a good guy in her life.

Not for long though, as she is then thrust back into Neptune as old-flame Logan (Jason Dohring) needs her help. Veronica then struggles to choose just what path she wants. Should she take up her new job offer in New York? Or should she go back to her dangerous Neptune adventure ways?

Rob Thomas did an exceptional job in giving back life to the short-lived three season series which has been off-the-air for 7 years. It feels as if it never left though as the essence of the show remains in-tact, only this time having better looking cinematography to go along with it.

It felt nostalgic seeing the main (and some of the minor) character appear back in character, some look exactly the same while others have lost weight and changed their appearance a little. There’s also some surprise cameos in the mix including some famous celebs which gave Mars’s first feature-length outing an added blockbuster feel.

Friends re-united. Veronica back with now all grown-up friends Wallace (Percy Daggs) and Cindy (Tina Majorino)

Story-wise, it’s perfect for any Veronica Mars fan and can be followed by newcomers who enjoy investigative mystery stories (something which in the first place made fans fall in love with the show).
However non-fans will struggle with the rest of it, there are far too many references that will go over the heads of newcomers and make them feel bored. Viewers who are unfamiliar with Veronica Mars history may also be unable to connect with the characters.. especially when Veronica and co. share some banter when re-uniting with former friends and enemies.

Newcomers, if you want to jump aboard the Veronica Mars train it’s probably essential to watch both seasons one and two of the show to fully grasp and enjoy the film. If not, you’ll feel like an outsider that’s been shovelled into the rejected class of Neptune.

Kickstarter funders though (in which the film couldn’t have happened without) shall be tremendously happy as the film specifically caters to what fans want, which inadvertently is the major reason why new audiences are left out along the way.

Welcome back Veronica, were all glad to have you back in our lives.. (well, maybe just us fans).

7.5/10

About The Author

Shahbaz Malik

See author's posts