Opened: March 14, 2014

Directed by: Rob Thomas

Starring: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Krysten Ritter, Ryan Hansen, Francis Capra, Percy Daggs III, Chris Lowell, Tina Majorino, Enrico Colantoni, Gaby Hoffmann, Jerry O’Connell, Brandon Hillock, Martin Starr, Ken Marino, Max Greenfield, Amanda Noret, Daran Norris, Andrea Estella, Sam Huntington, Duane Daniels, Jonathan Chesner, Jessica Camacho, Kevin Sheridan, Lisa Thornhill, Christine Lakin & Jamie Lee Curtis

Set nine years after the series finale, Veronica Mars fans can rejoice as their favorite ex-teen sleuth returns to the screen in a Kickstarter-funded film.

About to begin a career as a lawyer, Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) is drawn back to Neptune, California, when her ex-boyfriend Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring) is accused of killing their former classmate Carrie Bishop (Andrea Estella).

Those unfamiliar with the series may be confused with some character appearances and storylines, though there’s a nice recap at the beginning. But this was made for the fans with their money. Seeing many favorites return is heart-warming.

Bell is still fantastic as Veronica and still has her spunk, while Dohring brings a more emotionally mature Logan this time around. With a higher budget, the filming style is much more polished than the series.

Final say: A solid continuation. ★★★★☆