Veronica Mars

Veronica Mars is very much a film for the fans. Considering it was crowd-sourced through Kickstarter, this should be comforting. And it is. But it also limits the possibilities for attracting new fans, as so much of the film is rooted in the TV show’s past. I must admit here to total Veronica Mars geekdome. So when the opening credits rolled and Kristen Bell’s familiar voice began narrating, I settled right back into a comfortable place. All the main characters are back, and surprisingly little has changed in the seven years since the show went off the air. When a pop star is found murdered, Veronica’s ex-flame Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring) finds himself accused. Naturally, Logan calls up his favorite PI for help with the case, bringing Veronica back to Neptune just in time for their 10-year high school reunion. It’s fun to get an update on everyone’s lives, particularly that of the ever-sassy Veronica. Some plot points seem superfluous, though, as if writer/director Rob Thomas needed to fit a character in somehow. Others, like the fact that the murdered pop star went to Neptune High, seem unnecessarily contrived. But while that may bother a critic, it won’t likely deter any fans. Paradise Cinema 7. Rated PG-13