Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cast: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Ed Harris
Language: English
How wonderful it is when you are able to see a sequel that is as amazing, if not more, than the first one. There are no cringe-y wannabe dialogues, no forced references to a yesteryear classic, and no unmatched plotlines with no connection to the original. Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick is a tribute to the box office ‘80s Hollywood hit Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise. The Kawasaki H2 bike is back, the air-stunts are back, Val Kilmer is back and Tom Cruise too is back with a bang.
Top Gun: Maverick starts off nearly 30 years after the ending of Top Gun. Pete (Maverick) Mitchell is a Captain serving in the US Navy, and has avoided promotions to keep up with his passion for flying. Maverick’s typically risky stunt results in him almost getting benched when he is suddenly invited to become a TopGun instructor. As he is tasked with the job of teaching young fighter pilots to embark on an almost ‘impossible’ mission (pun intended), Maverick realises how circumstances have changed him and his way of flying. One of his students is Lieutenant Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (played by Miles Teller), who is the son of Maverick’s late best friend Nick “Goose” Bradshaw. Tension is rife between the two and their rocky relationship spills on to the skies as well. Meanwhile Maverick also resumes his relationship with Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly), who guides him in his endeavor. Does Maverick succeed in completing the impossible mission? Does he repair his relationship with Rooster and feels at peace with himself? The answer is a resounding yes, done with style, class and solid acting.
Tom Cruise kicks it out of the park and does what he does best: a superbly acted no holds-barred action flick with head-on confidence. I especially loved the second half where his conflicting personal emotions with Rooster intervene during a life-and-death moment. Taking risks is child’s play for Maverick and definitely for Cruise, and Top Gun: Maverick is proof of that. Val Kilmer as Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky speaks with his eyes and the easy camaraderie between Cruise and Kilmer is visible. Kilmer, despite being in a delicate physical condition in real life, makes the best of the few minutes of screen time and leaves us teary-eyed after his moving scene. Miles Teller plays the perfect hot-and-cold young pilot and he revels in portraying his rocky relationship with Maverick.
A special mention to cinematographer Claudio Miranda for some great scenes in the skies. Not only did they feel real, but they were taken with precision and control. Full points to the perfect cast that fit the screenplay like a glove. Joseph Kosinski’s direction merges seamlessly with the roles and the screenplay and his admiration for the original is visible throughout the film.
Nostalgia is a powerful weapon for cinema and Top Gun: Maverick uses it in spades! The particular references to the classic, playing ‘Great Balls of Fire’ on the piano, the beach volleyball game, the same characters leave us with our hearts full and a smile on our faces. And that left me yearning for the upcoming Mission Impossible film! If that’s not successful filmmaking, I don’t know what is!
Rating: 4/5
