Top Gun: Maverick is a 2022 American action drama film directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, from a story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks. The sequel to Top Gun (1986), the film stars Tom Cruise as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, reprising his role from the original, alongside Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer.
Top Gun Maverick is a conventional and perhaps formulaic effort from Tom Cruise, but it is masterfully packed with some of the finest action sequences in recent memory.
I’m not a big fan of remakes and reboots, especially when they come 36 years after the original. So, despite my affection for Tom Cruise and fondness for Top Gun, I admit I was a little hesitant when Top Gun: Maverick was originally revealed. All of my fears were dispelled in the first ten minutes of the movie. Top Gun: Maverick is a well-made, aesthetically spectacular picture that reminds us all why Tom Cruise is a celebrity. The film has problems, most notably the usage of obvious cliches, yet it never becomes tedious. It’s a magnificent picture that harkens back to the days of megastars and blockbusters, before both categories were supplanted by superhero movies. Tom Cruise’s intelligence and dominating screen presence are at the centre of the film.
Tom became a celebrity after starring in the 1986 picture Top Gun. It depicted Maverick’s character enrolling at Top Gun, a top training school for US Naval aviators, and how he learns to trust his instincts and work as part of a team. It introduced us to Goose, his comrade, and Iceman, his foe-turned-friend. The sequel to 1986’s Top Gun is called Top Gun: Maverick. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, the protagonist, is now a US Navy veteran. 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). Iceman (Val Kilmer), his former buddy, is now an admiral, and he assigns him to a mission that leads him back to Top Gun. Maverick now has a near-impossible assignment to train a group of new Top Gun grads. The problem is that the group includes Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, the son of Maverick’s late wingman Goose, with whom he had a tense relationship.
Top Gun: Maverick doesn’t provide anything groundbreaking in terms of plot. It might be formulaic and clichéd at times. The protagonists are archetypes that we’ve seen before. And, unlike the F-18s and scramjets on display, the plot twists are obvious from a mile away. Despite this, the film is entertaining. Yes, it’s predictable. No, it’s not boring! The shattered veteran, the wayward son, the underdog, and even a ‘forbidden’ romance are all used in Maverick, and they are all used brilliantly. It cleanly and firmly puts them in a well-made packaging, ensuring that they do not appear aged or stale. That is why Maverick is successful. It is still current and relevant. Yes, you are served old wine in a fresh bottle in this video. The bottle, on the other hand, is sparkling, and the wine has never tasted finer, making the entire experience rather enjoyable. Director Joseph Kosinski has done an excellent job of maintaining the Top Gun atmosphere while including fresh aspects. My only criticism is that if they wanted to include so many throwbacks to the original, they should have brought back Take My Hand.
Director: Joseph Kosinski and Cast: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Monica Barbao, Lewis Pullman, Bashir Salahuddin, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer
It’s difficult not to draw parallels between Maverick and the original, especially because the film starts with the same soundtrack and evokes nostalgia with the same surroundings and Maverick’s faithful Kawasaki. Despite being matched against one of cinema’s most legendary masterpieces, Maverick emerges victorious. The sequel is not a better picture, but it succeeds in completing a far more difficult task: tying up loose ends and bringing a nearly four-decade-long plot arc to a close. Maverick is about atonement and comebacks, if Top Gun was about coming of age. It brings Maverick to a crossroads in his life and profession, where he recognises that he is running out of time but is unsure how to let go. Tom Cruise has brought a lot to the table.
The film’s true selling point is its breathtaking aerial scenes and cinematography. It was great to witness some actual action, especially in fighter aircraft, in an age where we have become accustomed to CGI fantasy. In terms of visual style and exhilaration of dogfights, Top Gun: Maverick significantly outperforms its predecessor. In fact, it’s not an exaggeration to claim that it may even equal Hell’s Angels in terms of aerial scenes’ uniqueness. The battle scenes are more exhilarating and spectacular than any lavish stunt seen in Hollywood in a long time. They give you goosebumps and have elicited shouts of adoration on several occasions. It’s easy to see why Tom Cruise is so popular after seeing these.
