Veronica Mars (2014) [Blu-ray]
Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline: She thought she was out

The hit television show, Veronica Mars, makes it way to the big screen with the full-length feature, The Veronica Mars Movie. When former teen sleuth Veronica Mars's ex-boyfriend is accused of murder, she suddenly finds herself becoming drawn into the case. The past she wanted to forget comes back with a vengeance in this feature-length continuation of the hit series.

Storyline: Years after walking away from her past as a teenage private eye, Veronica Mars gets pulled back to her hometown - just in time for her high school reunion - in order to help her old flame Logan Echolls, who's embroiled in a murder mystery.

Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Kenneth Brown on May 5, 2014 -- I am one of the 91,585, a number few dreamed possible and even fewer anticipated. Among them, refreshingly humble Veronica Mars creator and scribe Rob Thomas, series star Kristen Bell, her willing co-stars and, really, every one of the dearly devoted Mashmallows who sat at their laptops biting their nails, nervously awaiting the launch of a Kickstarter campaign aimed at reviving a short-lived show long thought dead. Could a grass roots internet fundraiser accomplish what TV networks and executives could not? Or would not? Would fans actually step up and put their hard-earned cash where their mouths were? Would there be enough support to drum up Thomas' Kickstarter goal of $2 million? Would the campaign mark a new milestone in TV or another failed attempt to rally fandom to action? The air was thick with anticipation and fear. No one knew that Veronica Mars' passionate fans were about to make television history and set a precedent that would fundamentally alter the rules of the game.

But then came that number: 91,585. That's the number of backers that not only wanted to see a Veronica Mars movie, but were ready to crack open their wallets to ensure it would happen. Series fans didn't take their sweet time getting organized either, nor did their enthusiasm dwindle as the Kickstarter campaign neared its end. Thomas and company passed $2 million in less than 10 hours -- 10 hours, chew on that for a moment -- broke numerous Kickstarter crowd-funding records, and breezed across the 30-day finish line with $5.7 million, almost triple the amount Warner Bros. needed to green-light production. The resulting film will always be overshadowed by the means that gave it life, but is that such a bad thing? Thomas set out to deliver two hours of fan service and, to that end, he succeeds. Excels even. The succinctly titled Veronica Mars is a pitch-perfect series sequel in terms of tone, pop culture wit and general snarkiness, and only falters in the sluggishness of its exposition-laden first act, quasi-TV production values and two-dimensional whodunit. Ultimately, it plays like the second coming of Mars, and those who've so diligently held out hope all these years will have a difficult time containing their joy.

In the midst of landing a coveted position at a powerful law firm, former junior detective Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) learns that her ex-high school boyfriend, Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), has been accused of murdering his world-famous pop star girlfriend. Returning to her old Neptune, California stomping grounds to help him find a good lawyer, she finds herself gravitating toward old habits, old relationships and long-forgotten extracurriculars, much to the dismay of her father, private detective Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni). But Veronica is convinced Logan is innocent and there's a mystery to solve, one that pits her against several suspects, a corrupt police department, a shady sheriff (Jerry O'Connell) and a string of wealthy locals all too accustomed to getting their own way. Oh, and she happens to be swinging into town just in time to be dragged to her 10th high school reunion, so you can guess how ecstatic she is to catch up with her graduating class. Soon she enlists the help of old friends -- best friend Wallace (Percy Daggs III), tech wiz Mac (Tina Majorino) and ex-gang leader Weevil (Francis Capra) -- and sets out to clear Logan's name.

What will the faithful Veronica Mars fold experience in the overwhelming flood of series references, in-jokes, nods, name drops, wry barbs and familiar faces? Nothing short of nerd nirvana. The film is a desperate fan's dream come true. A flawed dream, rife with pitfalls apologists will shrug off without a second thought, but a dream all the same. After a weebly wobbly start (Thomas does backflip after backflip to assemble his Neptune regulars and castaways), the team hits their stride, gaining momentum as suspects mount, plotlines crisscross and an inevitable pileup brings everything to a messy-yet-tidy close. (Well, almost everything. Seeds are planted for future installments in the series, most of which will resonate with hungry fans looking to relive the glory days of the show's first and second seasons.) Once it gets warmed up, it gets funny too; enough to earn some big laughs, not to mention a perma-grin that grows and grows with each passing scene. It doesn't hurt that the actors are having such a blast partaking of Thomas' reunion within a reunion. The cast's chemistry is undeniable, from Bell and Colantoni to Daggs and Majorino, and on down the line. There's even a serious contender for comedy cameo of the year. You'll know it's coming when "skinny jeans" enters the Mars lexicon.

Those with a more discerning cinematic eye, though, will spot the seams and wince at the patchwork. Thomas' film sometimes flirts with made-for-TV chintziness, the supporting cast is hit or miss, and the script and story are more television extension than big screen transcendence (a la Serenity, a masterclass in expanding a cult-favorite television show into a feature film easily enjoyed by newcomers and lifers alike). There are a few too many plot holes as well, with Veronica's penchant for lucky breaks testing the limits of plausibility. Worse -- mild spoilers ahead -- a particular surge of libido deep in the second act inadvertently casts Veronica in an impulsive, selfish light as a not-so-mature woman of almost thirty who gives up a good thing to chase her bad-boy boy-toy. There's a reason most screenwriters go out of their way to make a heroine's temp boyfriend a bit of a jerk. Audiences will excuse just about any behavior if a character parts ways from an emotionally inert significant other... unless she neglects, ditches then completely abandons an intensely sweet guy for a temperamental lover. Thomas goes against convention, of course; presumably at the demand of the show's fanbase. But it's to his muse's detriment. Most of you will cheer Veronica's choice of risk-laced true love over stability and good sense. Rah rah rah! Goooo destiny! The Mars reunion's central reunion is, after all, what so many of you have been waiting for. (My wife included. Not sure how far to look into that one.) I was less thrilled. All I could think was, "poor Piz." But I guess dreamy and hunky only come along once in a future divorcee's life. Better to embrace it while there's still time to eventually apologize and win back the sweet guy you once so casually scorned. Right, Veronica? Right?

But we proverbial beggars can't be choosers. I'd rather live in a world with a less-than-perfect, crowd-funded Veronica Mars movie than no Veronica Mars at all. If nothing else, the film brings the life and times of its titular detective to a more satisfying close than the series' third season, indulges in enough fan service to give fans the fix they've been waiting for, leaves room for a sequel (or even a sequel series or spin-off), and delivers a steady stream of nostalgia with intravenous precision. What more could a Veronica Mars devotee want? Other than more, more, more of everything that makes the movie work? Maybe a more accessible introduction to the character and her world for those who haven't sampled the series... but let's just stick with more, more, more for now. Priorities, kids. Priorities.

Veronica Mars isn't a second coming, just a return to form. But it's a welcome return to form, one that, after a touch-and-go start, settles into old, familiar rhythms fans will gladly devour. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching the original series, though, prepare to be simultaneously overwhelmed and underwhelmed. This is for the people, by the people filmmaking; a passion project addressed to all those who believed they were capable of resurrecting a cult-favorite show cancelled before its prime with little more than donations and devotion. Thankfully, Warner's Blu-ray release delivers... for the most part. A more remarkable DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track would have been a boon (although that would have required more remarkable sound design) and some extra supplemental oomph -- a spirited commentary or two -- would have gone a long way. But it's a solid disc with a first rate video presentation. Serious complaints will be few and far between.

[CSW] -2.3- Since I never saw the TV series I was probably at a disadvantage when it came to wink-winks between the characters, which seemed to be the case. Not knowing their "histories" I was not privy to the innuendos that may have been peppered throughout. I think this was aimed at being a pretty good series finale, which is of no help if you didn't see the series. I'm told that this iconic television show found a way to wrap-up its storyline and that it was fun to see the cast back together again, but with no knowledge of the series and no way to know any of the backstory this just isn't a great movie. Fans may feel differently but if you didn't see the series it might be better to just skip this one.
[V4.5-A3.5] MPEG-4 AVC - No D-Box.


º º