“A long time ago, we used to be friends.”

As the credits rolled and I turned to my friend, thrilled and ready to gush, the first line of the theme song for the show-turned-movie “Veronica Mars” seemed especially fitting.

VERONICA MARS LIVES ON

Kristen Bell’s portrayal of quick-witted, snarky, dogged and Sherlock Holmes-esque teen Veronica Mars was more than just a character on a show that was tragically cancelled. To faithful followers of the show between 2004 and 2007 and those, like me, who devoured the episodes post-cancellation, Veronica Mars is an icon, role model and friend.

Though she left the television screen, Veronica remained adored and unforgotten in the back of many fans’ minds — evidenced by the overwhelming success of the Kickstarter fund for a “Veronica Mars” movie. The project broke several Kickstarter records as 91,585 people quickly surpassed the original $2 million goal, eventually raising well over $5 million. Clearly Veronica still has friends.

FANS ENTER IN WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS

The tension felt when entering the theater was similar to reconnecting with an old friend for the first time — bubbling with questions about the life they lead and curiosity about the person they have become. Thankfully, the movie deftly traverses the line between the Veronica fans knew and loved and the Veronica she is about to become.

In some way, the movie’s fate lies in the hands of the fans who have anticipated and imagined how director and writer Rob Thomas would tie off the plot. Who do you want Veronica to be and will you accept her if she doesn’t match up? Should she escape the pull of hometown Neptune, Calif. and tumultuous old love Logan Echolls to move on to a life as a New York City lawyer with loyal and stable college boyfriend Piz? Is it possible to leave behind the thrilling and dangerous life of her private eye persona?

Thank goodness she does not disappoint.

MATURED CHARACTERS FIT SEAMLESSLY BACK INTO ROLES

Kristen Bell’s stellar performance offers fans a mature Veronica — infused with the same spark of intelligent sarcasm — whose return home forces her to consider her future path. True to the show, the film is as packed with comedy as it is with action and plot twists. As nearly every character who graced the show’s script returns, in addition to cameos by James Franco and Kristen Bell’s husband Dax Shepard, the movie could have easily become a tangled mess.

Yet each actor, including Enrico Colantoni, who plays Veronica’s private investigator father Keith Mars, and Percy Daggs III and Tina Majorino — loyal friends Wallace and Mac, respectively — fit back into their characters like a good pair of jeans. Comfortable and familiar, it was like they never left. Even mean girl Madison Sinclair’s short screen time is priceless. Granted, we’ve been waiting for Veronica to punch her since season one.

Unless, of course, you haven’t watched any of the seasons and are wondering who Madison is and why everyone is so enthralled with this movie. If you fall into this category, watching all three seasons of “Veronica Mars” is highly recommended before running off to the theater.

RISK OF ALIENATING THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SERIES

The film’s success is rooted in its strong grounding in the original show, yet it does risk alienating those unfamiliar with it. Filled with plot tie-ins, references and inside jokes, the brilliantly weaved threads of plot and dialogue will be lost without prior knowledge.

Though Netflix only has the actual DVDs, Amazon Instant Video offers all three seasons to buy and stream online. Conveniently enough the movie, which is currently in theaters, is also available on Amazon to buy or rent. So after you finish the last episode and find yourself raging with an urge to write an angry letter to Warner Brothers for discontinuing the show, a solution is immediately at hand.