Director: Joseph Kosinski
Writer: Ehren Kruger
Cast: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, and Bashir Salahuddin.
It’s been over 30 years but Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is still one of the best pilots the navy has to offer. Heading for an early retirement the esteemed flyboy is presented with the golden opportunity to train the next generation of Top Guns, for an exclusive mission. Among the new airmen, Maverick notices a familiar and haunting face. The son of his dearly departed best friend Goose is among the trainees and now the Maverick must contend with the challenges of an uncertain future while being haunted by the ghosts of his past.
Maverick is the direct sequel to Top Gun (1986). Fans of the original will recall the tragic death of Maverick’s best friend Goose who perished in a maneuver gone awry. Goose was survived by a loving wife and young son. The young son grows up follows his dad’s footsteps and joins the navy. Miles teller is the rebellious “Rooster” son of Goose and a career serviceman looking to prove himself and find his own place beyond his father’s shadow. Thanks to a thick 80’s porn-stache Miles Teller is a passible look-alike for the original wingman Goose. Unfortunate mustache side, throughout the film we see their uncanny resemblance in subtle gestures and familiar callbacks to the original movie including a spirited rendition of “Great Balls of Fire”. Teller was the right man for the job embodying the youthful spirit of the original cast and providing an emotional depth that was absent in the first film.
As sequels go, Maverick is one of the great ones. Top Gun is a hard act to follow, it’s a treasure trove of moments and nostalgic sound bites that have enthralled viewers for decades. Fans will no doubt enjoy the easter eggs and call-outs sprinkled throughout the film. Some highlights include the infamous leather jacket and the motorcycle Tom Cruise rode in the 80s. Also, the often imitated volleyball scene was updated to a beach football scene replete with sweaty ripped Navy officers, including an incredibly fit Cruise. Despite the 36-year gap between release dates, Cruise is still the boyishly charming rebel he was back in 1986. Unfortunately the same can’t be said of most of his former co-stars. Kelli McGillis the original love interest, will not make an appearance and is quoted as stating she was never approached: “I’m old, and I’m fat and I look age appropriate for what my age is”. While that may very well have been a factor, considering how Cruise is aging like a vampire, Director Joseph Kosinski states his reasoning was to keep the film new and avoid relying too heavily on the past. Jennifer Connelly was tapped to play Penny a newish character who was only mentioned casually in the first film and never seen. Val Kilmer is the most notable cast member to make a cameo in the sequel. Kilmer who is currently battling throat cancer made a touching appearance as the notorious “Iceman”. Though visibly unwell, his illness was added to the story making for a touching end to the Iceman’s legacy. All in all Top Gun: Maverick was a fun nostalgic romp to the 80s with just enough fresh faces to welcome a new generation.
Top Gun: Maverick is in theaters on May 27, 2022.