Veronica Mars Parent Guide

Also Known As: Veronica Mars: The Movie

Veronica Mars fans have spoken. It’s one thing to put money down at the box office, but devotees of the television program went one step further. When Rob Thomas, creator of the series, asked viewers to donate to a film adaptation, they contributed in droves. By the time the collection plate was passed around 91,585 fans had handed over $5.7 million to see their favorite sleuth on the big screen.

The story picks up nearly ten years after Veronica (Kristen Bell) graduated from high school. She escaped the pull of Neptune, California and has since made a name for herself in New York City. As a recent law school graduate, she is in the running for a position at a prestigious law firm. Her dad Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni), a former sheriff turned private investigator, admires his daughter’s resolve to leave the snubs of high school behind her. Veronica is also involved in a comfortable relationship with Stosh “Piz” Piznarski (Chris Lowell) and he is anxious for her to meet his parents.

Unfortunately tranquility is not something Veronica craves. She is, by her own admission, an adrenaline junkie. She also carries a huge chip on her shoulder. So when she gets a call from her old boyfriend Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), she is on the first plane out of town. Logan has been accused of murdering his girlfriend Carrie Bishop. With a social media maelstrom swirling around the story, Logan wants Veronica to help clear his name. But it doesn’t take long before romantic feelings begin resurfacing between the two old classmates.

It’s no surprise that fans of the television program will appreciate this movie more than newcomers to the story. There are definitely lines aimed at the well initiated. However there’s more to this neo noir detective script than just insider jokes. Veronica is like a dog after a bone. She refuses to walk away until she’s dug out every last dirty detail.

That content won’t be anything new for those familiar with the series. But for parents with young teens and kids, those sordid particulars might be enough reason to forgo viewing Veronica Mars. The script includes a strong sexual expletive (along with several modifications) and a host of other profanities. There are murders, corrupt cops, fistfights, shootings and a graphic car accident. Some illegal drug use and drinking are also depicted. As well, audiences are exposed to brief scenes from sex tapes, passionate kissing and morning after scenes, frequent crude comments, sexual innuendo and crass terms for body parts and functions.

When it comes to cleaning up the community Veronica Mars’ thoroughness might be a good thing. Yet exposing youth to the corruption she intends to eliminate may not be something to which parents want to donate.

About author

Kerry Bennett

Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for over 15 years. As a parent herself, she believes parents play a powerful role in teaching media literacy in their homes.