THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Top Gun has been an 80s classic for many reasons that include: a dope soundtrack, having an exciting story and commencing the star power of Tom Cruise. With that kind of legacy left behind, it is safe to say that it deserved to have a sequel at some point.
PLOT
The 2022 follow up dubbed Maverick follows the titular US Navy Captain Pete Mitchell over 30 years after graduating from the infamous strike fighter program. Due to constant insubordination, he is prevented from flag rank. His friend Admiral Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky has been commander of the US Pacific Fleet, which gives him the opportunity to be prevented from being grounded. One day, Maverick continues to rebel by jumping ahead of a scramjet program to avoid it getting shut down. He does meet the contract specification to reach Mach 10, but damages the prototype when surpassing it. Iceman saves him again by sending him to NAS North Island as a TOPGUN instructor. There, he meets Vice Admiral Beau ‘Cyclone’ Simpson and RADM Solomon ‘Warlock’ Bates (Charles Parnell) who debrief him of an upcoming mission: The mission is to attack an unsanctioned uranium enrichment plant from an unnamed foreign country, defended by surface-to-air missiles and 5th generation Su-57 fighters. Maverick must train an elite group of Super Hornet pilots assembled by Cyclone to succeed in flying through the canyon and destroying the plant. The group includes: Lieutenants Reuben ‘Payback’ Fitch (Jay Ellis), Mickey ‘Fanboy’ Garcia (Danny Ramirez), Javy ‘Coyote’ Machado (Greg Tarzan Davies), Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd, Natasha ‘Phoenix’ Trace, Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin and Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw. Maverick is skeptical of training the latter as he remembers him as the son of his late friend Nick/Goose. Rooster resents him for pulling his Naval Academy applications that set him back four years. Little did he know that this was requested by his late mother Carole and Maverick took the blame because he didn’t want him to resent her too. Training does go mostly well as the group does choose to reassess and coalesce around him, but there is friction on the ground between Rooster and Hangman. While the latter is called out for his attitude towards the other wingmen, the former is called out for not being cautious. In between this, Maverick catches up with a former girlfriend named Penny Benjamin, now a single mother who runs a bar. When they rekindle their relationship, he shares the reason of setting Rooster back, but since he never told him exactly why, it led to him being blamed for what happened to Goose. He then visits Iceman about his ultimatum that if he lets him take part of the mission, he’ll put him in danger and if he continues holding him back, he’ll remain unforgiven. Ice makes it clear that Rooster needs him as much as the navy does and to let go of the guilt. This would sadly be their last conversation due to Iceman passing away as a result of throat cancer. With his friend and only protector gone, he is quickly removed during the last week of training. However, Maverick gets appointed as strike leader when pulling off the final training course to prove that it’s possible to accomplish the mission. On the day of the mission, he pairs himself with Phoenix and Bob, while appointing Rooster to lead Payback and Fanboy while the others are put on standby. They do destroy the plant as hoped, but they get attacked by surface to air missiles. Maverick attempts to sacrifice himself in hopes for the others to retreat, but Rooster chooses to turn back and save him from a gunship. With both of their jets destroyed, they sneak off the plant with an F-14 Tomcat. Once they’re off the airbase, they get chased by three Su-57s. While they take down two, Hangman saves them and takes out the third just when they run out of ammunition. Once all return to the carrier, they celebrate their victory and reconcile with one another. Some time after this, the film would end with Maverick taking Penny out on a date by flying her with a P-51, whereas Rooster plants a picture of his shared victory next to a photo memorabilia of his father.
THOUGHTS
I enjoyed the first film when I got the chance to see it and was indeed open minded when the talks of a sequel came up. For a while, it didn't even feel possible when the original director Tony Scott passed away. However, Producer Jerry Bruckheimer knew how much it meant to fans on wanting this to be a reality. So I found myself grateful when he and Director Joseph Kosinski were able to craft one of those few sequels that can excel past the predecessor. They maintain the spirit by being as practical as possible by having the actors fly actual jets onscreen and seeing their perspectives as shown by cinematographer Claudio Miranda and editor Eddie Hamilton make the whole experience surreal. Just when I found comfort after hearing 'Danger Zone' once again, the excitement kept going thanks to Hans Zimmer and Harold Faltermeyer composing a score that antes up the adrenaline you're gonna be feeling. I admire the practicality remaining intact, but to me, the heart of this movie comes from the new lessons we get to learn along the way. The majority of it comes from the return of the protagonist that makes the stories watchable. Front and center, Cruise doesn't skip a beat with the role that made him the superstar he's known to be since. With Maverick being a decorated pilot, he continues to be a risk taker that does so for others instead of others. Being an instructor wasn't the ideal path he had in mind, but it becomes an important part of his career it's an opportunity for him to push them to be the best versions of themselves they can believe in. While he became a role model to his students, it wasn't easy becoming so with the man he knew since he was born, Rooster. In a way, Miles Teller brought Goose back to life in the role of his son by not just resembling him, but for being a loyal and dedicated fighter. The difference is that he has a chip on his shoulder due to not exactly understanding people are trying to look out for him. When Rooster grew up, the guilt of his father's death returned to haunt Maverick. It was cold of him to pull his application, but it was a logical move because he wasn't willing to bare losing him too. Thanks to Val Kilmer's returning appearance as Iceman, we're reminded that letting go of the past is the only way to be emotionally healed. Without him, Maverick would remain unsure on what to do with the only family he had left. Once he did right by both sides, Rooster finally understood that he shouldn't have been resenting those that care. Even he was right to help stay with him and escape because not even he wanted to live with guilt deep down. And I don't think he was exaggerating when he said his dad would've done the same because that's a reminder how loyal they both are. After a life changing adventure, it's safe to say both men are happily on the same page for the rest of their lives. When first noticing Kelly McGillis' Charlie absent from the story, it became hard to imagine Maverick finding love again after how personal their relationship became in the first film. Little would expect fate to bring him back to his first love. In all honesty, Jennifer Connelly was a fine replacement because as Penny, she gives Mav the optimism he needs to prepare for the worst. It seems that these two hit it off so well and give it another chance due to how they respect each others independence and honesty. When hearing the song 'Hold My Hand' by Lady Gaga, third composer for the film, it is so beautiful each time because it accurately defines the importance of being there for a significant other every time it matters and that is exactly how it went between both characters. Seeing them fly away together, I hope it really works out this time around. Considering that Maverick has encountered so many people that don't agree with his methods, it becomes bound to make working rivals. Like Ed Harris' Radm. Cain, Jon Hamm played Cyclone as a strict, no nonsense figure. The difference he has from Cain is that seeing Maverick's skills first hand eventually taught him that some rules are meant to be broken to succeed and being different isn't the worst thing to happen. Seeing him smile in approval, he finally acknowledged him as the best at what he does. If there was one character I didn't think I'd be fascinated of was Hangman. At first, Glen Powell plays him off a little annoying for being the most overconfident in the group. That confidence did not make him a cooperative wingman. That is the same attitude Maverick had when he first attended TOPGUN. Lucky for him, no one died on his watch but seeing Rooster get picked over him made him understand the value of having a team. He accepted that he wasn't the best and chose to not let it destroy him, only motivate him to do right by others this time. If he and Rooster become wingmen towards each other, I'm sure their friendship will be as strong if not stronger than the brotherhood Maverick had with Goose and Ice respectively. Monica Barbaro was another fine addition to the cast for showing off Phoenix as one who lives up to the callsign: She is vocal when it matters the most and is gracious to those that respect her will, hence offering a great set of wings out there. I also dug Bashir Salahuddin as Wo-1 Bernie 'Hondo' Coleman who echoed the same loyalty Goose had with Maverick. However long they knew each other, he knew he was the best and appreciated him looking out for, making him willing to help however. Last but not least, I even had a soft spot for Bob because Lewis Pullman made him one who comes off shy but doesn't do so when things hit the fan, proving his worth in the battlefield. There is no doubt that that this movie is awesome, but even awesome movies like this have their fair share of issues. I really didn't think this would continuity errors, yet it has one only a minute into the film. During the opening introduction of reintroducing TOPGUN, they use the word 'ensure' instead of 'insure' like the first film. The only reason I remember this in the first place is because I re watched the predecessor, making it a typo 34 years in the making. If I gotta go any further, how are there so many cameras in one scramjet? Seeing that there is 12 of them proves it to be an over the top way to show off how advanced it's supposed to be. The seventh angle makes it look like it has sideview mirrors and we know that ain't right. And isn't it weird for Maverick to enter the base in his motorcycle without pulling over before he reaches the gate? Even if people know he's coming, guards should've tried to stop and request his ID. I mean Cain pulled over before he went through so the security has too much of a bias. The bias gets only more confusing when it appears to be easy for Maverick to steal an F-18 to prove a point. Speaking of which, if it was possible to hit the plant under 3 minutes, he should've led with that to rally the group, especially since Ice still would've saved his ass before dying. I understand that Maverick is Iceman's best choice make the mission successful, but how did Cyclone go along with the conflict of interest that is Mav and Rooster not seeing eye to eye due to the past? I know Cyclone admires Ice but he shouldn't trust him that much. And If I'm being honest, how is the story of Goose treated as a secret? It was a big deal when he died and should've been already known as the stuff of legend rather than make an excuse to remind viewers of Hangman's arrogance, especially since there's stills of the first film in the lobbies. I didn't mind seeing Hondo being Maverick's assistant coach because he's the only one other than Ice to trust him, but how did he get the position? Did Maverick actually ask Ice to bring him along or did the guy ask for a transfer to TOPGUN and got to pair up with Mav? The luck these characters are living off of are insane. Other than that, this is still one hell of a movie. In conclusion, Top Gun: Maverick is one of 2022's best movies for being a sequel that knew exactly what to do to properly elevate everything that worked first time around, and make it better. If you love the first one, see this now.
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