Remakes and reboots are not something I frequently trust, especially when they come out 36 years after the original. I’ll admit that even though I love Top Gun and admire Tom Cruise, I was a little hesitant when Top Gun: Maverick was originally revealed. All of my concerns were dispelled in the first 10 minutes of the movie.
Top Gun: Maverick is a stunningly produced movie that serves as a great reminder of why Tom Cruise is a superstar.
Although the movie has certain shortcomings, primarily the usage of cliches, it never becomes tedious. It’s a magnificent movie that harkens back to the days of megastars and blockbusters when superhero movies supplanted both of those titles. And at its core is Tom Cruise’s genius and powerful on-screen presence.
Tom became a household name as a result of the 1986 movie Top Gun. It demonstrated how Maverick, the character, learns to trust his gut and cooperate with others after enrolling at Top Gun, an exclusive flight school for US Naval aviators. It introduced us to his companion Iceman and his rival Goose.
Years after the 1986 original, Top Gun: Maverick takes place. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, the main character, is currently a veteran of the US Navy. He should have been an admiral by now based on his service record, yet he is still a Captain (or as he reminds everyone, a highly-decorated Captain).
As an admiral, his old friend Iceman (Val Kilmer) sends him on a mission that leads him back to Top Gun. Maverick is now tasked with instructing a group of recent Top Gun graduates in an almost impossible assignment. The hitch is that one of the members of the gang is Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, who was Maverick’s late wingman Goose’s son and with whom he had a troubled past.
Top Gun: Maverick doesn’t provide anything revolutionary in terms of the plot. Sometimes it is predictable and cliched. We’ve seen these archetypes before in the form of the characters. In addition, the story’s turns are much more obvious than the F-18s and scramjets on display. But despite this, the movie is still interesting. Yes, predictable. dull, no!
The beaten veteran, the prodigal son, the underdog, and even a “forbidden” romance are all used in Maverick, and they are all used effectively. It neatly and securely wraps them up in a well-designed presentation so they don’t appear worn out or stale. Hence, Maverick is employed. It is still current and applicable.
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The movie does indeed offer you old wine in a new bottle. The wine, however, has never tasted better, and the sparkling bottle makes the entire situation extremely pleasant. Director Joseph Kosinski has done a good job of retaining the spirit of Top Gun while including more modern components.
However, since they were so desperate to include so many nods to the original, perhaps they might have also included Take My Breath Away. Without “his” song, Maverick feels lacking.
It’s challenging to avoid drawing comparisons between Maverick and the original, especially given that the movie begins with the same background music and evokes memories of its well-known location and Maverick’s dependable Kawasaki. But Maverick triumphs despite competing against one of the most recognizable movies of all time.
The follow-up is not a better movie, but it completes a much more difficult task: it ties up the loose ends and completes a plot arc that started almost forty years ago. In the same way that Maverick is about redemption and comebacks, Top Gun was a coming-of-age story. It places Maverick in a predicament in his life and profession where he is aware that time is of the essence but is unsure of how to let go.
Tom Cruise has done a fantastic job of bringing out the charm and obstinacy of the character. Additionally, he has permitted Maverick to age and gains some wisdom over the years. He appears relatable despite the fantastical scenario, and the audience will quickly come to love him.
The supporting cast gives competent performances. However, Tom outshines them, in part because of his inherent screen presence and in part because the writing limits what they can do. This is one area where the movie falls short of the prequel. Here, the supporting players are not as fully developed. We scarcely know anything about their motivations or lives outside of Rooster.
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They serve as archetypes, advancing Maverick’s arc by being there. The actors perform admirably under the restrictions, especially Miles Teller as Rooster and Lewis Pullman as Hangman. Penny Benjamin, Maverick’s latest love interest, is Jennifer Connelly (an in-universe joke for anyone who has seen Top Gun).
However, there isn’t nearly a spark between Penny and Pete. Although they only have a small amount of screen time, veteran performers Jon Hamm and Ed Harris give outstanding performances, while Val Kilmer’s cameo is merely fantastic fan service.
The film’s breathtaking aerial sequences and cinematography are its true selling points. It was energizing to watch some actual action, especially in fighter jets, in an era where we are so used to CGI illusions.
In terms of aesthetic appeal and the exhilaration of dogfights, Top Gun: Maverick significantly outperforms its predecessor. In terms of the freshness it provides to aerial sequences, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to claim that it might even equal Hell’s Angels.
The battle scenes are more intense and spectacular than any lavish stunt that has recently emerged from Hollywood. You get shivers from them, and adoration has been heard gasping more than once. You can see why Tom Cruise was adamant about delaying the movie for a big-screen release after watching them.
In a way, the movie pays meta-honor to Tom Cruise’s life and achievements. The younger generation might wonder why he is significant, although he was once a movie star and possibly the most known face in the world. Several superheroes from the Marvel and DC stables have supplanted him as the peak of Hollywood over the past ten or so years.
Tom Cruise’s last-ditch effort to stay in the game is Top Gun: Maverick. The future is here, and you’re not in it, an admiral informs the aging Maverick in a dialogue that occurs early in the movie. Maybe so, sir, the hero answers with a smile. just not right now. For me, the interaction perfectly captures the movie’s purpose. The so-called “last superstar” claims he won’t be leaving without a fight, at the very least.
