Veronica Mars (FILM REVIEW)
Veronica Mars
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Sleuth Franchise Revived via Faithful Version of Mystery TV Series
Veronica Mars was a critically-acclaimed
TV series which enjoyed a three-year run from 2004 until 2007. Kristen Bell
starred in the title role as a smart aleck teen detective who spent most of her
free time solving crimes committed in her mythical hometown of Neptune, California.
Fans of the franchise will delighted
to learn that Kristen and eight other principal cast members have returned for
the big screen version of their much-beloved program. Written and directed by
the show’s creator, Rob Thomas, this faithful reboot was substantially funded by
a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.
At the point of departure, we find
Veronica happy to be living in New York City,
where she’s preparing for the bar exam, having recently graduated from Columbia Law School.
She’s also now in a long term relationship with Stosh “Piz” Piznarski (Chris
Lowell) and expects to be offered a job with a prestigious Manhattan firm.
But fate intervenes when pop
singer Bonnie De Ville’s (Andrea Estrella), body is found lying in her bathtub
and Veronica’s ex-boyfriend
Logan (Jason Dohring) is the prime suspect. So, she impulsively returns
to Neptune only to help him find a good
attorney, since she’s convinced he’s innocent.
However,
her super sleuth instincts soon kick-in and it’s not long before, just like old
times, she’s uncovering clues with the help of her Private Investigator father
(Enrico Colantoni). Her arrival back in town conveniently coincides with her 10th
high school reunion where many of her classmates have congregated to catch-up
and reminisce.
The
gathering also proves to be the best place to interrogate persons of interest
in the unsolved murder. For, Bonnie had attended Neptune High, and several alums
seem to have had a reason to want her silenced. That’s as far as it’s fair to
spoil this nostalgic whodunit delicately laced with surprising twists each step
of the way.
Though back
by popular demand, consider this edition of Veronica Mars compelling enough even
to hold the attention of folks unfamiliar with the original TV show.
Very Good
(3 stars)
Rated PG-13
for sexuality, violence, profanity and drug use
Running time: 108 minutes
Distributor: Warner
Brothers
To see a trailer for Veronica
Mars, visit:
No comments:
Post a Comment