The bitch is back, in all her glory.

Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell, Frozen, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) returns to Neptune, when old flame Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring TV’s Moonlight, Ringer) is accused of murder (again, for the marshmallows out there). She’s on the precipice of graduating law school and joining a big-time, successful law firm in New York City to the joy of her father (the invaluable Enrico Colantoni, Galaxy Quest, TV’s Just Shoot Me!), but quickly finds herself being pulled back into the PI life she left behind. 

It’s designed to be palatable for all audiences, giving a brief run through Veronica’s history and relationships in the opening credits, but given the way it got funded and the line I waited in to get into the theater it’ll land closer to home for the fans.

I can’t speak for those who didn’t hop on the Veronica Mars bandwagon. Perhaps to them it’s a sharp-enough, character-driven thriller with a complicated past. Perhaps the ample backstory, cheesy love triangle, and Krysten Ritter without bangs will count them out.

There’s plenty of criticism that could be slung at the movie itself. It’s far from a perfect film: it’s got a lot of ground and characters to account for (Wallace, Weevil, Mac; you are not forgotten). But as a fan of the show, I can say that I found it to be a damn good mix of honest, character moments and natural fan-service that comes with the territory.

The natural bluesy rhythm of Veronica Mars are well suited to the big screen, and if the plot seems stretched a bit thin across its two hour run time (though it could be argued they’re used to working with much more time) the punch and wit of the Neptune cast (plus James Franco cameo) carries it through. Thanks, largely, to Bell, who slips fluidly back into Veronica’s leather jackets, and serves as the strong, smart, and funny female protagonist we always wished we could be. She should always dress like that.

The Veronica Mars movie blends the nostalgia for a fabulous show long gone into an old formula that still makes for a thrilling addition to the canon. It’s a mixture of closure and openendedness for Veronica and the town of Neptune managing to wrap things up neatly in a pleasing manner for the fans. Will the MARShmallows want s’more? I know I do. But for now I’m just happy to see my favorite gumshoe back on the trail, for however briefly.