Top Gun: Maverick was released on May 27, 2022, with the anticipation, Top Gun: Maverick lives up to the standards of the original Top Gun.
Cast
Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Glen Powell, Jon Hamm.
Director
Trim, Trivialize, and Trivia: In a time where sequels rarely match or exceed its predecessor, it’s hard to believe that Top Gun: Maverick is so great. However, with all of those elements I listed above, I have to hand it to Cruise for finding that missing element that puts him back on top. Sadly enough he didn’t find his stars in Val Kilmer (A great supporting role) or Meg Ryan (obvious chemistry between Val and her), instead, he found his star power with a younger generation of actors who are still new to Hollywood and only just now beginning their careers.
Synopsis
Tom Cruise reprises his role as USAF pilot Pete Maverick Mitchell, alongside a new generation of recruits in Top Gun: Maverick. General Mayhem (Val Kilmer) is on a mission to bring down a shadowy government organization by recruiting students from different military schools across the country, including Thomas Iceman Regis (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Aaron Joker Jefferson (Nasim Pedrad), Charlie Stitch Sullivan (Jon Bernthal), and Maya Parvati (Olivia Munn). The cast also includes Monica Barbaro, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, and Jennifer Connelly.
Review
Before you even see a frame of Top Gun: Maverick, you’ll probably notice that it’s missing one thing from its title—Val Kilmer. The original Top Gun starred Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer, but 20 years later, Cruise is back in what appears to be an all-new sequel (we’ll get to why it’s called a sequel). While Tom Cruise’s absence was likely attributed to scheduling conflicts rather than any beef with costar Miles Teller (who takes over as Goose), fans of Val Kilmer may want to give Maverick a pass. It’s not because he wasn’t given much screentime, though.
Rating
4 stars (out of 5) Awesome movie! This new release is a remake of the original Top Gun and features an incredible cast, gripping storyline, and spectacular aerial stunts. Fans will surely enjoy what can only be described as an epic masterpiece that keeps you on your toes from start to finish. In short, it’s classic Tom Cruise at his best. If you are looking for an inspirational story or a film about good vs evil then I would certainly not recommend Top Gun. For those seeking high-octane entertainment featuring military jets battling over mountains and oceans, then look no further than Top Gun: Maverick!
Plot and acting
The acting in Top Gun: Maverick is adequate, with Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprising their roles from 1986. However, I was disappointed with Jennifer Connelly’s role as a bar owner (I couldn’t buy her as a bar owner). I did like newcomer Sophia Grace Marlowe as Goose’s daughter. Many of my favorite scenes are lifted straight from 1986, including fighter pilot training and voice-over dialogue between characters such as Goose and Iceman. While exciting and patriotic, the plot has a few holes in it that you could drive an F-35 through. For example, if drones are so common that fighter pilots no longer need to train or launch missiles manually or escort drones through hostile airspace…why do they still exist?
Production value
With a $160 million budget, producers don’t want to make any mistakes. The first film was made 30 years ago and only took in $357 million worldwide at box offices, but it has grown a massive fan base since then. While I would never say that Hollywood executives are running purely on greed, they do have to make sure their audience is there for their product. While I think that Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood’s best actors, his declining popularity over time could have been enough reason for producers to pass on another film without him. Thankfully for fans everywhere though, Tom Cruise was eager to get back into the cockpit once again and take down bad guys in another thrilling dogfight as Maverick—the greatest fighter pilot ever trained.
Conclusion
What does a Top Gun sequel starring a new generation of aviators have to offer? For one, it’s set in today’s environment. Director Joseph Kosinski (Oblivion) takes what people loved about Goose, Iceman, and Maverick and turns them into modern heroes. If you love classic films or aviation, you’ll enjoy watching Tom Cruise return as Maverick and see how he inspires a new generation of fighter pilots with drone technology. Everyone has something to learn from Cruise’s character, who remains true to himself while giving back. There’s plenty of action too.
