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Friday, March 14, 2014

MOVIE REVIEW Veronica Mars
Just When She Got Out...Neptune Pulled Her Back In


Kristen Bell as the title character in Rob Thomas's drama "Veronica Mars", a role she played in Mr. Thomas's TV series.  Robert Voets/Warner Brothers
       
by Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com        FOLLOW                                            TWEET
Friday, March 14, 2014

Five million Kickstarter dollars and seven years after its television incarnation ended, Rob Thomas's "Veronica Mars" hits the big screen to triumphant effect.  Mr. Thomas, whose "Veronica Mars" TV series I'd never seen, cultivated a critical and ratings hit.  He directs Kristen Bell (Showtime's "House Of Lies", "Hit And Run"), who reprises her title role from the small screen.

In 2014 the fictional Neptune, California remains, and Veronica, the once-avid, razor-sharp private eye, is poised to be a big firm attorney in New York City.  Her dad Keith (Enrico Colantoni, great here), Neptune's preeminent private investigator, toils away countering the local sheriff's office from which he was forced to depart.  Neptune's sheriff's office is in keeping with more overzealous forms of law enforcement in America. 

The focused, purposeful Veronica has lost none of her sarcasm in the intervening years, though she claims to have mellowed out.  "People say I'm a marshmallow," she says during the opening credits.  Veronica's private eye days are seemingly beyond her.  "I don't -- really do that anymore," she says with hesitation when ex-boyfriend, naval man and Neptune resident Logan (Jason Dohring), accused of murdering a singing sensation, requests her help.  Veronica's hesitation is all you need to know. 

"Veronica Mars" is a light, comedic drama that mixes the ingredients of mystery, photography, goofiness and noir for an entertaining experience on the big screen.  Ms. Bell brings intelligence, smarts and a toughness to the title role, giving the character an appealing gloss and fearlessness.  She possesses charm, quick-wittedness and easy-going charisma too.  Few comedy-dramas with title lead women characters take those characters seriously, but Mr. Thomas's film, written by the director and Diane Ruggiero, doesn't make Veronica a woman who has to get out of her own way or overcome her gender to get results in service of a standard story involving sex, lies, murder and tablets.  

Conversely, many of the other women in the film are of a more shallow variety but nonetheless integral to the plot of the film, whose multiple colorful characters throw you off the trail and keep you guessing to the end.  "Veronica Mars" promotes an authentic father-daughter relationship, which as a parent I enjoyed.  Ms. Bell and Mr. Colantoni have marvelous chemistry, conveying the aspects of familial relationships that are unique, special and precious.  The camaraderie of Veronica and her friends is lively, sanguine, with an innocence and humor that delighted me.

I found "Veronica Mars" to be a lovely, engaging surprise.  Mr. Thomas obviously knows his material, which he created for the television show.  It's a comfortably and confidently directed film.  "Veronica Mars" is a clever, pleasant and enjoyable film that does most things right (save for the appearance of the mega over-exposed James Franco.)  Sadly, in this film year, it may be the only one with a female lead character that does.

Also with: Krysten Ritter, Gaby Hoffman, Jerry O'Connell, Eden Sher, Ryan Hansen, Chris Lowell, Tina Majorino, Percy Daggs III, Francis Capra, Jamie Lee Curtis, Martin Starr, Christiann Castellanos, Maury Sterling, Justin Long, Ken Marino.

"Veronica Mars" is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association Of America for sexuality including references, drug content, violence and some strong language.  The film's running time is one hour and 47 minutes.

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