Saturday, March 15, 2014

Film Review: Veronica Mars


Screenshot from Kickstarter's homepage
     After years of being off the air, Veronica Mars the television show was given new life as a feature film that opened this week. It was funded on Kickstarter by over 90,000 people and raised $5.7 million.

     From a film industry stand point, it made history. It is the most a single project has ever raised on Kickstarter and it opened up the flood gates for other Hollywood players such as Zach Braff and Spike Lee to fund their latest films this way. For the film industry, it suggests a possible new funding model. For fans, it means hope for a second life of favorite shows.

     The film is premiering all over the world in theaters and online on March 14th. In America, the film is playing at AMC theaters and is available on iTunes.
I took this as I entered the theater
 
     As a huge fan of the tv show, I was thrilled that there would be a movie. I was never satisfied with the ending of the series and this film really delivered for the fans. I don't think the film is nearly as enjoyable if you've never seen the show before, however the opening sequence did a great job of summarizing the 64 episodes. The film was full of witty banter and smart escapes. There's even  a mystery or two, because it wouldn't be Veronica Mars without it. It was just really cool to see so many characters from the show make an appearance after all of this time. I left the film wanting more.
   
     Luckily, there is plenty more to come. There will be a series of Veronica Mars novels with the first book being released March 25, entitled The Thousand Dollar Tan Line. The series of books take place after the end of the film. In addition, the CW is doing a spinoff web series involving the show. Who knows what else will happen with this saga but I'm excited to find out!

     If you were as heartbroken as I was when the series ended, go and see the film. If you haven't seen the show before, Watch It! or at the very least see an amazing film with an incredibly strong and flawed female lead.  I sat in between a Veronica fan (also wearing her backer tshirt) and an older woman who had never seen the show but decided on a whim to watch the film. Both said they really enjoyed it.

In the end credits of the film