Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Veronica Mars is the much-hyped Kickstarter-funded follow-up to the popular TV show that ran for only three seasons from 2004 to 2007. Starring Kristen Bell and the rest of the cast reprising their roles as the former Neptune High characters 10 years out of high school, the movie contains pretty much the same amount of violence, drug references, and passionate kissing as the series, but there's more strong language ("s--t," "a--hole," one "f--k off"), sexual innuendo, and a couple of love scenes. Like the show, the movie is about standing up for the truth and those who've been written off as guilty.
Sexual
Content
Two sex tapes are briefly shown, but neither shows more than people on a bed with some moaning (one is grainy and black-and-white without audio). It's clear two different couples have sex (one more than once), but the sex scenes aren't graphic (passionate kissing, shirtless guy, woman wears only a shirt).
Violence
Like the show, the movie contains some violence and a body count -- the victim of the movie's major mystery (who was electrocuted in the bath tub), plus a few others, including two people who are shot, another who's purposely hit by car, discussions of a teen who overdosed and drowned, and a couple of seriously injured characters.
Language
Occasional use of words including "bitch," "s--t," "s--tty," "dick," "crazy bitch," "a--hole," and one "f--k off."
Social
Behavior
The movie, like the series, is concerned with standing up for the truth, even when it's inconvenient or difficult to unearth. Veronica makes unpopular and sometimes questionable decisions, but she's ultimate true to herself and who/where/with whom she wants to be.
Consumerism
Several obvious product placements and references include Samsung computers, tablets, and phones (no one seems to own another technology brand); a BMW; YouTube; TMZ; Skype; IMDB; Diet Pepsi; Budweiser beer; New York Post; and Entertainment Weekly. Piz works at New York's NPR station with Ira Glass, who produces This American Life.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Adults drink cocktails, beer, and wine at parties, dinner, and a bar. A video of a man holding a bong is shown, and there's a conversation about a video of a pop star snorting lines of cocaine. Several twentysomethings discuss a night when a classmate died after they were all very drunk and high on drugs.
