'Veronica Mars'

One Kickstarter campaign and $5.7 million later, everyone’s favorite millennial private investigator is back to doing what she does best, spouting witty one-liners and solving mysteries in her hometown of Neptune, Calif.

We open with Veronica living in New York City, interviewing with high-powered attorneys for law jobs — hello, Jamie Lee Curtis cameo — and dating her college boyfriend-turned NPR employee, Piz.

But Marshmallows, the name loving coined for the “Veronica Mars” obsessed, wouldn’t stand for Ms. Mars steering clear from danger and mystery for too long.

Logan Echolls, one half of the LoVe (that’s Logan and Veronica for non-Marshmallows) relationship, is accused of murdering his pop-star girlfriend, Bonnie DeVille, and he’s left with no choice but to call upon his P.I. ex to find out what really happened.

Hence, Veronica is back in Neptune just in time for her 10-year high school reunion.
How convenient for the plot.

Despite a quick, two-minute intro at the film’s beginning to usher in viewers who’ve never seen an episode of “Veronica Mars,” this is really a movie designed for the fans. And why shouldn’t it be? After all, it was the fans who put up their own money to see this film made.

But that isn’t to say it isn’t an enjoyable mysterious and character-driven affair for the average viewer.

Bell, who’s since blossomed into quite the film star with break roles in films like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and the animated hit “Frozen,” has all the snark and charm that made Veronica so refreshing during her three season arc on television.

In the film’s opening minutes, she pops an imaginary cap off of her middle finger and flashes it to an immature guy interviewing for the same job as her. Oh, how we’ve missed you, Veronica.

Another of the film’s highlights is Veronica’s pitch perfect relationship with her father, the ever-wonderful Enrico Colantoni. The two trade barbs laced with love like no time has passed since the show went off the air in 2007.

Despite the fact that Veronica is whip smart and more capable than 90 percent of all the male protagonists you’ve ever seen, we’re still subjected to the romantic triangle between Veronica, Logan and Piz. Both Team Piz and Team Logan will have their moments to shine, and it’s important to resolve that story line the TV series left open.

Hopefully, if this isn’t the last we’re to see of Veronica, romance will take a backseat to the show’s more interesting points, like Veronica’s friendships and aptitude for solving crimes.

“Veronica Mars” probably isn’t for you if you’ve never heard of her before. But the feature film has managed to pack in an interesting, if light, mystery in with plenty of jokes for Marshmallows both old and new.

If nothing else, stay for the enigmatic Kristen Bell, who provides a near infinite amount of reasons why we need more Veronica tales in the future.