Top Gun: Maverick

Tonight, I got to finally see “Top Gun: Maverick,” which came out in theaters back in May but was released on Paramount+ yesterday, and now I will let everyone what I thought.

The danger zone for sequels is simply redoing what worked before and hoping the audience doesn’t notice the lack of quality or care in the middle of six-packs, beach games, and high-flying jets. This is what “Top Gun: Maverick” smartly avoids.

Dan Buffa said in his review, “When you're in the company of Hollywood's tireless Maverick in Tom Cruise, premium entertainment is promised. Nostalgia and emotional resonance in old yet viable characters is the icing on the cake in Joseph Kosinski's sequel.” It’s been over 30 years since Tom Cruise’s Pete Mitchell aggressively flew up the skies to win people over in 80s romantics and beat the villains in the end, but little corruption can be seen on the new film. He’s still pushing the limits of the marriage between the aircraft and the sky in the beginning, flying a brand-new updated jet through the clouds fast enough to draw a circle when trying to reach a Mac10 finish.

The G-Force created by the jets in this film is real, and you can feel it. While the cast and crew do a wonderful job of bringing back the enjoyment of the late Tony Scott’s original, it’s the jet action parts and dogfight combat scenes that will mesmerize you, raising the film to another level. Before the pandemic caused so many delays that they were the main reason that the film’s star and studio wanted to delay the release date after fans got the first trailer over three years ago. The wait was well worth it, because these scenes really exceed the limits for what Hollywood can do in the sky.

Buffa noted, “Think of Cruise's pilot as that incendiary (for a good reason) element that won't accept less than top-tier entertainment.” When Maverick finishes the flight by going so fast over a closed down gas station that the roof lifts slightly into the air, you’ll feel the good vibrations too just like Ed Harris’ old killjoy Rear Admiral does, even if his “Hammer” doesn’t approve of the younger Captain’s methods.

Every character has unique call names, like Glen Powell’s Hangman (a combo of young Maverick and Iceman) and Miles Teller’s Rooster. It’s Teller’s touching character as the son of Goose, Anthony Edwards’ best friend to Cruise’s pilot in the first film, that is mainly the central focus of the plot. His dad’s history hasn’t been known and absorbed by the characters in the film, but by the audience as well. When Maverick is called back in to train young top guns, the passionate relationship with Teller’s Ben Bradshaw ignites at the center of the mission. How do you teach someone whose father you couldn’t save?

The relationship between the drama from the original carries over well here, thanks to a skillful script from Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie. Buffa said, “The writers lean into the assorted treats and thrills of the source material while giving it all a nice upgrade.” The arrival of Jennifer Connelly as the woman who got away from Maverick is a classy, old-school movie romance, and Jon Hamm makes for a hard Admiral. Buffa mentioned, “The St. Louis actor mixes his mean Don Draper persona with the decorated, by-the-book thread of his Beau "Cyclone" Simpson here. It all just works well together.”

Little works better or will become more emotional than Val Kilmer’s return scene as Maverick’s former rival and current friend, Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. Without going into detail to spoil the emotion, it’s a very well-acted and well-written scene that increases the relationship of the characters and really telling everyone about Kilmer’s recent battle with cancer. Moving is the best way to describe this and it’s a scene you will always remember.

Buffa admitted, “"Top Gun: Maverick" is a movie I won't soon forget.” With all the sadness we are currently seeing in the news, seeing Cruise can be a huge help. He’s the main person that holds everything together – making you believe in everything his risk-taking pilot can do by doing as many of the stunts himself as possible. He’s the real-life Maverick, pushing himself until it all works, making a solid sequel that makes you feel the rocky yet terrifying power of Scott’s original. As people call into question his cruelness on set and his unusual offscreen persona, the famous actor proves he’s still got the need for speed – so do we.

Buffa said, “Cruise and company were all set to get this film going ten years ago before the director's untimely death, and I think this is something Ridley's brother would absolutely adore. From the Lady Gaga theme song-she's easier on the eyes and ears than Kenny Loggins-to the piano sing-along scene to the thrilling finale that will keep you guessing, "Top Gun: Maverick" checks all the boxes of a worthy sequel.” Eventually, it sores even higher than the first movie.

If anyone missed the chance to see this movie in the theaters, see it on Paramount+ because it is a must. If you saw the first one and loved it, you will definitely get that same feeling when seeing the sequel. Don’t miss the chance to see this film. This is really an emotional ride from beginning to end. As everyone probably knows, this is the highest grossing film of the year and is the highest grossing film by Paramount, surpassing “Titanic.”

Thank you for joining in on my review tonight. Check in tomorrow for the continuation of “Disney Month 2022.”