And I liked the movie so much, that I spent a good portion of my weekend binge-watching more episodes and plan to watch the movie again when I finish the series.
I want to talk about why I liked the movie in detail, so don’t click through for my review unless you’ve seen it. But I’ll say this: if you have never seen the show Veronica Mars before, keep your expectations for the movie low. This film was funded by, and made for, the superfan.
To be honest, I’m not sure how any moderate-to-hardcore fan of Veronica Mars could dislike this movie. If you only ever really liked season one, then sure, maybe you wouldn’t fall for the flat-out audience pandering that took place. But I loved this movie and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
I’m glad that Veronica and Logan ended up together, that he kissed her on the nose. But if they hadn’t? If the movie had gone in another direction? I think I’d be OK. I don’t think the movie was bad because it gave fans what they wanted. I think the movie was good because it was well-written, because it told an exciting story, and because I love these characters.
I liked what Veronica had been up to since she left Neptune. It felt right – although her reconnecting with Piz was a bit of a stretch. (My biggest pet peeve with the movie, by the way, was that Piz was working at NPR’s This American Life, which is in Chicago, but seemingly living in New York.)
Veronica’s reason for returning to Neptune was good enough – helping Logan prove he didn’t murder his popstar girlfriend. It was necessary, given that this movie was telling a story about Veronica and Logan.
When Keith got into the car accident I kind of saw it coming, but I was still on the edge of my seat. And I enjoyed the main mystery – I was so sure that something slightly different was going to happen when Gia got shot, that I had an actual physical reaction of shock at the sound of gunfire.
I liked how the Weevil thing set up a possible second movie. The guy had cleaned up his act, had a hot wife, a cute kid and his own auto shop. When he knocked on the window of an SUV surrounded by gang members to offer help, it was Celeste Kane inside and she shot him. The corrupt police used the opportunity to frame him for a crime. At the end of the movie, when Veronica decides to stick around and try to help rid Neptune of some of its seediness, we know that taking down Celeste Kane will be at the top of her list. Second, I guess, to making the dirty cops who almost killed her dad pay. It’s a good set-up.
What really made this movie was the writing. Rob Thomas has not lost his touch – he still knew exactly how to write for each character and relationship, and the movie had the exact tone of the show. It was so witty. It was dark. Every important relationship – Veronica and her father, Veronica and her friends, Veronica and Logan – was perfect, and had matured since the show. (I love that Veronica can swear and drink now). Dick was maybe even funnier than he used to be, and Gia was bitchier. Veronica is still Veronica – the girl who’d rather see a trial sentence come down than take an important exam is the woman who’d rather solve a mystery than take her first grownup job.
If the story ended here, I’d be OK. I was actually OK with the original series finale, I never felt the need to have the story wrapped up with a neat little bow. I didn’t care that Veronica was still “with” Piz when the story ended because I didn’t believe she’d stay with him.
Now we have a happy ending for Veronica and Logan, and she’s back to being a private detective in Neptune. That’s a pretty tidy bow, but if they continued to tell this story I’d be interested in it. Whether it’s another movie, or a Netflix series, or whatever – as long as the writing is still this good and the characters are still so true to the original story, I’m in.