Veronica Mars is back! She thought she had escaped Neptune, California for the calmer, grown-up world of New York City; she thought she had escaped her bad boy past for the calmer, drama-less college boyfriend, Piz; but then they pulled her right back in. Even after nine years, one phone call from Logan Echolls is all it took; after all, their love is epic. It can span years and continents, lives ruined and bloodshed.

It's probably not a good idea to answer a phone call from the son of a Hollywood actor who had murdered his girlfriend, the son of a Hollywood wife who jumped off a bridge, and has a penchant for getting himself accused of murder. But Jason Dohring plays Logan Echolls. One of the most promising actors to come out of TV who has still not "made it", he has a way with words and a charisma which evokes a passion that makes otherwise good girls fall for bad boys.

Luckily for us, unfortunately for Veronica, Logan's most recent murder charge coincides with her high school reunion, and it reunites us with all the Neptune High characters we loved to hate (Madison Sinclair, Gia Goodman),everybody we loved to love (Weevil, Wallace) and everybody we forgot how much we loved (Mr. Clemmons, Corny). It's been eight years since we've last seen most of these people. Some actors didn't change (Jason Dohring),some characters didn't change (Dick Casablancas),and some scenes didn't change. And those were the great parts. Veronica tricking the Sheriff again, Veronica flirting with a certain Deputy with a pizza in hand again, and Keith scolding his number one daughter again were hilarious.

It can be a bit weird going from the small screen to the big screen. A different actor playing the same character doesn't help and old characters that we never actually met doesn't help either. Logan wearing the Navy dress whites seemed a joke at first, and then when it turned out to not be a joke, I was still waiting for the joke to play out. The jokes came when Veronica finally made it to the reunion and when Dick was helping Veronica help Logan. But then it got dark, and they pulled me right back in.

The comedy is primarily inside jokes, and yes it is very funny, but probably not hilarious to non-fans. The plot can be easily followed by anyone, and we and Veronica set out to solve who really murdered Logan's pop-star girlfriend. Well, actually, Veronica sets out to solve the crime. One of the biggest differences between the TV version and the movie is that we don't get 20 episodes worth of clues to solve it ourselves. We just get to sit back and watch Veronica get pulled back to the Hellmouth that is Neptune, California.

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.

In some ways, I am the worst person to watch the Veronica Mars film. After all, I have never watched the television show on which the film is based—or do I know anything about it. I am probably NOT the typical person who would go to see the movie. I also am probably not in the target audience, as I am nearing 50. However, on the other hand, there are LOTS of people who didn't watch the show—and in many ways, this film is for them. Fortunately, you do NOT need to be a fan of the series to understand what is happening in the film. The beginning did a good job of catching the viewer up on the character—so if you are drug along to the movie by a friend who LOVES the series, you don't need to worry about feeling lost.

When the film begins, you learn that Veronica has left her home town of Neptune and gone off to college—where she was a super-high achiever. She's about to begin working for a high-power New York law firm when the film begins—as she' a recent graduate of the top schools and with top grades. However, when her ex-boyfriend is arrested for murder, Veronica cannot sit back and let the case work itself out—particularly since she knows how corrupt her old local police force is. So, she puts her job offer on hold and heads home. Soon, she begins to detect a pattern— other old classmates have also died and there might be some conspiracy afoot. But, instead of letting the police or her father investigate, she springs back in to action—like, apparently, the Veronica Mars of old who cannot resist a mystery.

I noticed that People Magazine this week did a quick review of the film. They described by saying 'this is basically a deluxe reunion episode'. I would agree that it could easily have been a made for TV movie and has that look. However, as a lover of classic Hollywood films, I see it also as being very much like a B-mystery series—such as Charlie Chan or the Falcon---and with many of the same old clichés that were common in the 1930s and 40s. Now this is NOT meant as a criticism—more of a comment about the style of the plot. So, if you remove the very hip music and hipster dialog, you have so many elements that are familiar to fans of the mystery genre. There is the inexplicable confession that comes from one of the conspirators near the end of the film, a heroine who commits break-ins and a huge confrontation scene where the heroine attacks and temporarily subdues the evil killer—yet doesn't pick up his gun! All these clichés are very old and very familiar…very. However, it's how all this is packaged that is unusual. Some may adore the self- possessed narration and coolness of the film—and it obviously is trying to appeal to younger audiences (I'd guess in the 16-30 range in particular). As for me, it was okay—and the story reasonably engaging and interesting. My verdict, strictly for the uninitiated like me, is that while I would not rush to the theater to see this one, it is a pleasant time-passer and you won't dislike the film. I see it more as a film to watch when it comes out on DVD. However, this does not apply to the fans of the old show—they most likely will love it. After all, their show is back—the amazingly successful culmination of a HUGE Kickstarter campaign—one that set records for how much and how quickly it was funded! These folks will certainly enjoy the film…and look forward to the "Untitled Veronica Mars Spin off" currently listed as being in the works (at least according to IMDb). I hope that Kirsten Bell will have time to do this—she has been a very busy and successful actress since appearing on this cult TV show.