Veronica Mars: O Filme

Excuse the use of the Sade song title, but it really sums up my feelings about this film. I wanted to like it, I really did. I liked the TV show, and even contributed to the Kickstarter campaign. I'm not sure what I expected, but what we got was basically a 2 hour TV reunion show (2 hours if you had commercials, the film is only 105 minutes).

In 10 years, the residents of Jupiter have gotten older, but not smarter or wiser. And, sadly, even though all of the actors expressed great enthusiasm for the project, they all seem a little tired. They're happy for the pay checks, but in the end, they are rehashing the same characters, with the same emotions and the same actions as 10 years ago. Kristen Bell always brought that world-weary sense of cynicism to Veronica Mars, even when she was playing a high school detective. Now she just seems weary. I would much rather watch her in 'House of Lies', where that more grown up cynicism shines.

Bottom line is we should all have just moved on, and let our memories of the TV show remain intact. This was not an elegant ending of a good show, but a sad reminder of what we once liked and enjoyed.

If you are a fan of the "Veronica Mars" television show, then you have probably already sought out a copy of the movie continuation released on March 14, 2014. Whether it be in the cinema during its limited theatrical release, On Demand, or legally streaming online via Amazon or iTunes, fans were able to feel the sensation of show creator Rob Thomas and leading actress Kristen Bell saying "thank you" to their cult of fans.

However, I understand most do not fall into the group of "Marshmallows," the nickname given to the faithful followers of the three season CW series that ran from 2004-2007, but "Veronica Mars" is necessary to see when it is released for home viewing because marks history by setting a precedent in its production genesis.

Thomas was not anticipating his indefatigably sarcastic teenage detective heroine would take her final bow at the end season three, an episode that concluded the series by leaving many cases unsolved.

Fans have bitterly urged Thomas to make a film since 2007 for closure. After many rejections and no volunteering movie studio offering to produce the project, Thomas and Bell structured a Kickstarter fundraiser as their last resort, a process in which fans donate money out of pocket to a cause. In the case of "Veronica Mars" fans, Kickstarter supplied them a chance to prove their desire to revisit their favorite characters again.

The deal proposed by Warner Brothers studios: if $2 million for the film's budget was raised through Kickstarter, then the film would go into production and the WB would distribute and promote it.

The goal of $2 million was raised within the first 11 hours that fundraiser was activated. "Veronica Mars" broke the record for largest Kickstarter project in history, ending with the total revenue amounting to $5.7 million for the film's production costs. Even if "Veronica Mars" may not tickle your movie buds, it should be seen for the principle of being paid for completely by the fans.

Eight years after escaping the nefarious people and crimes of Neptune, California, Veronica Mars has put her intelligence to use into law school and is now applying for positions at high power New York City law firms. She has rejected her interests and aptitude in the private investigation field, but Veronica quick to pick up her old tendencies in snooping around when her ex-boyfriend calls on her for help in clearing his name of murder accusations. Veronica returns to Neptune, struggling to keep a hold on her new life while being vacuumed into her old one.

The film caters to the fans of the show, but doesn't alienate new members from the empire. You will not be confused or lost if you have not seen the show. Some frivolous story items are placed for easy fans access to tame their nostalgia, but if you do not get the "in" jokes, the lines fly over your head without a second thought.

A strong theme of "Veronica Mars" is the idea of a shadow. The balancing challenge Veronica faces is something most adolescents confront after their education is fulfilled and life begins to call their name: the yearning for home. Should Veronica stay in New York and begin her career as a prolific lawyer or should she return to her father, old boyfriend, and high school friends in Neptune? Veronica has strived to not be swallowed up in Neptune's abyss since the death of her best friend—the murder case that originated Veronica's skills as a PI—so now that she has these supreme opportunities, why not take them?

Reoccurring mentions of magnets and visualizing shadows establish symbols of Veronica's inescapable past and possibly her future. Anytime Veronica makes a major decision, she is shot in backlighting, forming a silhouette resembling a shadow. Don't get me wrong, "Veronica Mars" is not a compelling piece of art from an auteur director like Paul Thomas Anderson, but the imagery is poignant and compelling enough for a pat on the back.

"Veronica Mars" the show was wickedly wonderful, but you could always feel the target audience. "Veronica Mars" the movie is slightly depleted from the flourishing freshness of the series because the young adult tone has been relinquished. Thomas releases his "teeny," over- edited, abundantly neon lit style from his suspense tale in the transition to a motion picture, a blessing and maybe curse.

The mystery is concise, compact and not easily cracked. The classic pungent dialogue of Veronica's acid-tasting sarcasm is utilized fully while the sleuth digs through the past for answers. Watching Veronica interrogate the sketchy and identify the guilty is amusing.

Veronica is rendered exuberantly by Bell, particularly when she blows her character's sardonic comments at the adversary characters. She breathes the funniest dialogue and is one of the central reasons that "Veronica Mars" is so enjoyable.

"Veronica Mars" is an addictive film that ends valiantly in the show's roots, which illuminates the "Marshmallow" in me and propels the start of something new in the narrative (maybe a sequel?). The DVD and BluRay will be released May 6, 2014.

Unfortunately I never watched the series when it was on TV so I went into this movie knowing that I would not fully understand the background of most characters. However, I went into watching it knowing that some of the audience would be in the same position as myself so I wanted to see a decent enough stand alone movie.

This film was funded by a Kickstarter campaign that racked up close to 6 Million dollars and broke records on Kickstarter for fastest campaign to exceed 1 Million and 2 Million dollars. Lots of the people who helped fund the movie where recruited as extras in the movie. A funny cameo is of Dax Shepard in a club who is Kristen Bell's real-life husband. He is always such a funny guy.

During the movie I felt that there was not much depth to the emotions and characters, felt as though it was still part of the series or an episode just lengthened into a movie. The story was decent and kept me watching, however, I wanted more intensity. The humor was a great part of the movie, had a few great laughs. There were a lot of characters I thought that did not get much introduction, which I assume I missed since I did not watch the series. Non the less, this movie was enjoyable to watch at home. Kristen Bell is a great actress and held here own in this movie. This is no Sherlock Holmes movie, however, it is a fun mystery movie that could easily get a few sequels of different mysteries for Veronica to solve.

Check it out if you are a fan, if you are not a fan it is a basic mystery movie with minimal depth to the characters besides Veronica.

Till next time, watch Hit N Run

Jason Lucas THOUGHTS OF A MOVIE ADDICT Face Down Entertainment

This is one of the most satisfying movies I have ever seen! Then again, I am a bit biased since I helped back the movie on Kickstarter.

I was a huge fan of the show when it was on the air and was ecstatic to hear about the movie. It's been almost a year and we finally have it! It was well worth the wait and the contribution to the Kickstarter campaign.

For the first few minutes of the movie, there is a slight recap of the TV show featuring clips with a voice over by Veronica Mars. This is used not only as an introductory piece for new watchers but also a walk down memory lane for the fans.

As expected, there were plenty of "inside jokes" that were casually thrown out in dialog. What was brilliant, though, was the fact that they weren't obvious. They blended with normal conversation and were just added bonuses for the fans and for new watchers it was just another example of how great the dialog was. You don't need any background information about the show to watch this, you won't be left in the dark with the inside jokes.

The movie is self-contained but leaves space for a sequel in one form or another. Characters grow and change during the movie, so it's not just a movie to have a movie.

Characters from the show are brought back but not in a pushy sort of way. It is a large cast but everyone has a proper place. You don't have anybody from the show return for a only second, everyone gets good face time without it being overwhelmed.

Overall, I highly recommend this move to anyone.

It was great! Awesome plot, witty like the original show, and absolutely loved seeing almost all of the original cast!