TOP GUN: MAVERICK
2022 | Dir. Joseph Kosinski | 130 Minutes
"Trust your instincts! Don't think, just do. You think up there, you're dead. Believe me."
Called upon to instruct a new generation of elite fighter pilots taking on a perilous mission, Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell confronts his past when he is tasked to train the son of his deceased best friend.
A long-gap sequel to the beloved but objectively brain-dead 1986 blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick is an undeniably exceptional action film that defies all expectations. Aside from the picture's main draw of mesmerizing fighter jet sequences, this follow-up also features a disarmingly sentimental narrative that ingeniously builds upon the woefully underdeveloped storylines from the original Top Gun, utilizing the preceding film as backstory for its older, guilt-ridden protagonist, creating a more well-rounded main character and immediately giving the mission at hand some truly engaging emotional stakes. The central interpersonal conflict between Maverick and Rooster is fairly simple, but it is adequately compelling, as is the now decades-old friendship between Maverick and Iceman that greatly benefits from the nostalgia naturally brought on by the passage of time. The picture is also strengthened greatly by its roster of genuinely likeable hotshot fighter pilots, each with just the right amount of distinct personality, and the gradual development of their camaraderie is convincingly depicted. Even the cheesy beach football team bonding sequence works. However, the romantic subplot, bringing back an old flame of Maverick's mentioned only in passing before, is weak and generally inconsequential.
Inventing new IMAX camera setups in order to capture the actors in actual fighter jet cockpits, Top Gun: Maverick creates a unique authentic and immersive cinematic experience. The thrilling high-flying maneuvers and intense dogfights are expertly staged and beautifully photographed in a way unlike any other film featuring aerial combat before it. The insistence of the filmmakers to minimize the use of green screen and CGI absolutely pays off, particularly in the mind-blowing hypersonic test pilot sequence, the various playful training sessions, and during the riveting bombing mission. As if the bombing run with heavy shades of Star Wars weren't a tense enough climax, the film's immensely entertaining extended final act includes even more action when Maverick and Rooster mount a daring escape from enemy territory, hijacking a vintage F-14 to make their getaway.
As Maverick, Tom Cruise more or less plays a variant of his public celebrity persona, a reckless man of action with more courage than sense, though he also convincingly gives Maverick a lingering remorse over the events of past. Miles Teller is impressive as the stubborn Rooster, more than keeping pace with Cruise's intensity. As Maverick's love interest Penny, Jennifer Connelly is captivating and as charming as ever despite the character not having enough material to truly leave a lasting impression. Glen Powell stands out as Rooster's cocky rival Hangman, convincingly equally charismatic and detestable. The supporting cast also features Jon Hamm as a no-nonsense vice admiral that provides additional conflict to the story; Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Jay Ellis, and Danny Ramirez as the lead mission candidates; Ed Harris appearing briefly as a stern rear admiral; and Val Kilmer making a truly moving special appearance reprising the role of Iceman.
Top Gun: Maverick is superior to its predecessor in almost every way imaginable, perhaps even retroactively making the empty-headed original picture slightly better. With phenomenal aerial action sequences and a surprisingly heartfelt story at the center of its narrative, it is a technically and emotionally satisfying cinematic treat. Though it is far from the deepest film thematically, Tom Cruise's return to the role that firmly established his movie star status is a quality crowd-pleaser.
FRAGMENTS
- Since Val Kilmer unfortunately can no longer speak due to throat cancer, Iceman's voice is produced using AI technology mimicking Kilmer's voice
- Previous Top Gun love interest Charlie played by Kelly McGillis is conspicuously absent, intriguingly though, new love interest Penny is briefly referenced in seemingly throwaway dialogue in the original film
- One of the few things this film doesn't do better than the original, the theme song "Hold My Hand" by Lady Gaga is a decent tune but it doesn't hold a candle to Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" from the original Top Gun
