Veronica Mars (2014)

When I say this is for fans only, I don't mean that if you are unfamiliar with the TV series you will be lost watching this. I wasn't a fan of the series and I was able to follow the movie fine. There are plenty of characters and moments that seem to serve no purpose other than (I assume) to please the show's fans, but none of these really get in the way of the plot. I came into this film with no expectations or baggage. I like Kristen Bell and I was willing to give the movie a shot, despite my never being able to get into the show when it was on the air. What I will say about the movie is that if you liked the series, I see no reason why you won't like this. If you didn't like the series (I didn't), then this will probably be a very unpleasant movie viewing experience for you because it really is like a big-screen version of the show. If you have never seen the show, then read on.

The pace is excruciatingly slow and I lost interest more than once. I was quickly reminded of why the show never clicked for me. It's like Buffy without the action, romance, or humor (to say nothing of monsters). Veronica Mars does try to have some of those things, particularly what is supposed to pass for humor. But it's very weak. The kind of stuff you would need a laugh track for. The only time I laughed was with the James Franco cameo. I couldn't for the life of me see what everyone else in the film was talking about regarding this Logan character, played by Jason Dohring. This lanky, rubber-faced individual seems better-suited to playing the nerdy best friend than the handsome "bad boy." There is also no chemistry between Dohring and Kristen Bell. There we have one of many divides that I, as someone not an avid devotee of Veronica Mars, will never be able to cross. The biggest divide is that I found the main character unlikable and obnoxious. Her sneering and condescending tone towards everybody but a select few of her closest friends makes me wonder what anyone ever saw appealing in this character. Thankfully, in her post-Mars career, Kristen Bell has been allowed to do roles that showcased her charm and personality better than this.

As someone who is a fan of actual old-school detective and film noir stories, of which Veronica Mars is supposedly a modernization of, I find nothing of interest here on that front. There is no atmosphere, no snappy dialogue, no unique or memorable characters. Veronica Mars just plods along at a steady pace, never rising or falling significantly, never building momentum to anything. When the moment comes for the mystery to be solved and the killer(s) apprehended, it comes with a whimper not a bang. There is a distinct lack of style or substance to this world of Veronica Mars that makes it very clear why the TV series was not more successful and why it needed fans to pay for this movie to be made.