Top Gun: Maverick

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Writer: Peter Craig, Justin Marks, Ehren Kruger, Eric Singer, Christopher McQuarrie, Jack Epps (original creator), Jim Cash (original creator)

Starring: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Charles Parnell, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, Val Kilmber

Reason for watching: Top Gun sequel more than 30 years in the making and delayed four times during the pandemic

Number of times I’ve watched it: twice already

***

Hype is double-edged sword. It builds excitement, gathers a crowd, and gets our blood rushing. But in the end, hype is a poison. Nothing more than empty words elevating expectations for a person, project, or piece of art that may have had nothing to do with that hype in the first place. If the hype is too high, monumental achievement can be considered subpar. No expectations means something mediocre can be a success. All that said, after the release of its predecessor 30 years ago and multiple delays due to the pandemic, Top Gun: Maverick had expectations through the roof. Boy did it deliver.

Three-plus decades after his initial visit to Top Gun flight School, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is called back to prep a group of top Naval pilots on taking down a dangerous power plant. The crew includes a group of talented young aviators featuring Hangman (Glenn Powell), Phoenix (Monica Barbaro), and Bob (Lewis Pullman) amongst others. One particular pilot has a history with Maverick, Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller). Son of Maverick’s old wingman “Goose,” the two have a bit of personal history that has kept them from seeing eye to eye over the years. However, the two will have to work past that if the mission is to be a success. Another person from Maverick’s past is there waiting for him in California, old flame Penny Mitchell (Jennifer Connelly). On top of that, Admirals Cain (Ed Harris) and Simpson (Jon Hamm) are against Maverick every step of the way. But perhaps Maverick is able to pull off one last trick.

Since his name is literally above the title of the movie, and he’s the starring producer, Tom Cruise needs to be discussed first and foremost. Is the man doing his best acting work here? No. Is he giving the most notable performance in this movie? No that would be Powell or Teller. But is he the reason this movie is holding together and why it got made in the first place? Yes. Cruise is of a dying breed. A movie star who can open a movie and put butts in seats. Are there still famous actors? Absolutely, look at the Avengers. But the last time Robert Downey Jr. tried to open a movie where he was not Iron Man, it flopped worse than a fish and smelled like one…it stunk. Yes, Cruise is attached to the Mission: Impossible franchise, but his name is also above the title on that poster. Without him this movie does not get made and it is not making almost $300 million in two weeks at the theaters. Almost no one can do that kind of thing anymore. So credit goes to Cruise, because he can do what no other actor can.

On top of the star power of Cruise, we have terrific young actors backing him up like Teller, Powell and Barbaro. Teller carries the emotional weight of the movie as Goose’s son. The tension between himself and Cruise was palpable and strong. The fire that Teller brought to the screen keeps our focus and sharpens the main conflict in the movie between Rooster and Maverick. As firey as Teller is, Powell has the same amount of swagger, oozing a toxic confidence that I could not help but laugh at. Powell maybe have overcooked the onion in some parts, but my goodness if it didn’t bring a tear (of laughter) to my eye. Another new addition to the franchise is Barbaro as Phoenix, another pilot in the program. In this world of male egos piloting multi-million dollar planes, Barbaro stands out. Yes she is the only female pilot we get an extended amount of screentime with, but also she portrays excellence and teamwork. Without someone like that in the cast there’s too many cooks in the kitchen.

On the older side of things, Harris, Connelly, Hamm, and Kilmer round out the cast nicely. Both Harris and Hamm present strong opposition forces to Maverick’s way of doing things, but are not so opposed that they cannot help him. The dynamic between Maverick and his superiors is rife with subtle conflict. Connelly and Kilmer’s characters are firmly on his side. Connelly is there to be a love interest who almost shorter than Cruise, but she is so charming on screen. On top of that the romance between Benjamin and Maverick is mature and seasoned with time. Sure they do not always connect, but there is something between them that is endearing and enduring. Finally, bringing back Kilmer is a masterful touch. With the past couple of years and his physical ailments keeping Kilmer from the limelight, it is great to see him back. His minimal time is used properly and respectfully.

One of the weaknesses of the original Top Gun is the action. Severly limited by the technology available at the time, the air combat sequences felt slow and were cut weird. But with more modern technology available, the plane flying scenes are amazing. We get dramatic race sequences, dog-fights, and training exercises. They keep us on the edge of seats the entire way. Like its predecessor, Maverick’s final act is one massive mission that devolves into an air to air fight. That last 45 minutes keeps you right on the edge of seat, holding your breath in anticipation. This is easily one of the best action movies made in the last decade plus. Right up there with modern classics like John Wick.

this is not to say this movie is without flaw. Connely’s character seems tacked on to me for the most part. If you removed her character from the story it would not take away from the main conflict of the story at all. While I do love the final action for the sheer adrenaline you get from it, some of the fighter’s fates seems unrealistic and my suspension of disbelief was tested somewhat. Now, I want to stress how little these issues mean in the scope of this movie. I am here for one reason and one reason only: to see planes fly fast and blow other planes up. And Maverick delivered that in excellent fashion.

8/10

Until I see another one