Thirty-six years and some things pretty much remain the same. The same can be said for Tom Cruise, a.k.a Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Cruise who turns 60 in July still has that youthful look and still up to his same tricks as the courageous and cocky test pilot persona reclaiming the top role in the much anticipated movie TOP GUN: MAVERICK, the sequel to the 1986 Top Gun.
It’s pretty evident from the opening scene that we’d be in for a treat as bad boy Maverick dons his aviator ray bans and races his motorcycle sans helmet to the airstrip. And despite being told that the hypersonic “Darkstar” project was being axed in favor of redirecting those mega dollars into UAV drone programs, Maverick being Maverick has the need for speed, so he disobeyed orders and piloted into the air highway beyond Mach 10 beyond the danger zone.
After surviving his little stunt, he was summoned to the none-too-happy admiral’s office played by Ed Harris.
“The end is inevitable, Maverick,” said the Admiral, “Your kind is headed for extinction.”
“Maybe so, Sir. But not today,” with a grin replied Maverick.
Maverick is not only good at what he does but also has friends in high places so he was assigned back to where it all started – the TOP GUN Academy where he’s given an assignment to train an elite group of Top Gun graduate aviators for a mission involving uranium that would likely be the ultimate sacrifice.
The sequel pays homage to the original and gives context and perspective to those who may not have seen or remember the 1986 Top Gun through reminiscing and photo flashbacks.
We see the recreation of famous scenes in the new setting – the singing of Great Balls of Fire at the bar, the unauthorized fly-bys over the control tower and the famous spray-tanned beach volleyball scene has morphed into a different sport.
Maverick has always been a care-free (some call him careless) risk-taker. But despite his 30 years of service, Maverick has only attained the rank of US Navy Captain but in the sequel, it’s obvious that some of the event still it the past still haunt him.
While the original sees Kelly McGillis, (Charlie) as his love interest, the sequel introduces Penny Benjamin, the Bar owner when the top gunners hang out played by Jennifer Connelly. According to the Top Gun Fandom, she was not actually seen in the original movie but was only mentioned by name in a whisper (which I totally missed) – and of course, she was an Admiral’s daughter.
Despite the films almost copycat footage of opening sequence, it’s a different movie and an all new cast – except for Maverick and a brief appearance by Tom “Iceman” Kazansky played Val Kilmer who had risen to the rank of Admiral – although the character, Lieutenant Bradley Bradshaw (Rooster) played by Miles Teller, the son of Maverick’s best friend, Nick Bradshaw (Goose) who died in the first movie is now all grown up.
In the movie, the Iceman is in ill health but mirrors that Kilmer in real life has been suffering from throat cancer and can’t really speak. In fact, according to Insider, Kilmer’s can’t really speak dialogue for the movie was created using AI technology by using old recordings of his voice.
Dogfight Inevitable
The storyline is simple, we see the many antics that were present in the original but of course It’s a given the movie would involve a wicked dogfight and of course our hero Maverick would be right in the middle of it.
While technology has certainly come a long way from 1986 ( where most of the scenes were actually performed by real pilots,) I’m sure some of the advances since then adds to the experience.
As to not give too much away, all I will say that the movie did not disappoint and that when the planes were in the air, I could feel the rush of adrenalin flowing throughout.
Interestingly enough we never actually find out who the villains really are. Perhaps the creators didn’t want to single out any particular potential nuclear powerhouse. Or could foreshadowing for a Top Gun 3 – although by that time it may be hard for Cruise to still be the youthful one.
Out of This World
Despite taking three dozen years for a Top Gun sequel, for me, TOP GUN: MAVERICK is to Top Gun as the Star Trek: Wrath of Kahn was the original Star Trek: The Motion Picture – out of this world and well worth the watch. 4.75/ 5
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