Top Gun: Maverick is a 2022 action drama from director Joseph Kosinski, the man who brought us TRON: Legacy and Only the Brave, from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie, and a story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks. It is the highly anticipated follow-up to the 1986 hit film, Top Gun.

After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Training a detachment of graduates for a special assignment, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who choose to fly it.

The cast includes Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Bashir Salahuddin, and Ed Harris.

Top Gun: Maverick made it’s theatrical release on May 27th, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

THE GOOD

I mean, where do I start? The original Top Gun, which made it’s theatrical debut when I was still doing #1 and #2 in a diaper and eating dirt for no logical reason, is an absolute classic and one of the most quotable films in recent memory. You’ve surely heard the “Maverick” or “Goose” reference, even if you pretended to know what it meant but in actuality had no idea. Either way, Top Gun is one of those films that found a way to reverberate through the film industry for decades, and that is quite an accomplishment. I made it a point to re-watch the original film right before I made my way to the theater to see Top Gun: Maverick, and I am glad I did. Keep reading to find out why!

Boy oh boy, Top Gun: Maverick brings the heat, and then some. I went in with what I considered to be sky-high expectations thanks to all of the early screening feedback, and my expectations were met, and exceeded. I mean sure, it wasn’t like they reinvented the wheel or tried to get extra crazy with a new elaborate story, they just offered up a quality product serving as a continuation of the original, and in the process giving fans everything they wanted, and more. I loved so much about this movie, but my favorite thing about it would have to be how it felt like a passionate extension of the original film. Top Gun: Maverick opens with a mirror image to the opening sequence of the original film, and I thought that was such a nice touch. I was sitting close to an older couple who was probably in their late 20’s/early 30’s when the first Top Gun released, and the joy they were experiencing throughout the film was a big part of what makes movies so special if you ask me. The team behind the making of the film seemed to value one of my favorite sayings which is, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Seems simple enough, right? Back in 1986 Top Gun blew the top off the film industry for a reason, and the recipe for success was simple.

Tom Cruise riding his motorcycle with that awesome jacket of his and those slick aviators, I mean he was James Dean level cool (dated reference, but you get it). And some great flying sequences with a nice love story mixed in for good measure, as well as a bit of an emotional element. Speaking of Cruise, I have to attribute much of the success of the film to his involvement as he clearly cared about doing the original justice. When Top Gun: Maverick started and he put on that original jacket and jumped on that same motorcycle, I was giddy. Cruise as a person may have some questionable outlooks on life in general, but you just can’t deny his commitment to his craft, the guy is a generational talent. I firmly believe that without his involvement in the project and what seemed to be a certain level of creative freedom for him in terms of the story, Top Gun: Maverick wouldn’t have been nearly as successful. But, more on him later when I touch on my thoughts on the cast as a whole. Bottom line, the nostalgic element of the film was huge for me.

As I talked about already, the story in itself was a strength for Top Gun: Maverick, as it follows a similar recipe to the original with the “new generation” spin. Taking place over 30 years after the events of the original film, we find Tom Cruise and his Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell character working as a testing pilot for the Navy. Mitchell, who has always been a bit of a headache to his superiors, hasn’t changed one bit. Mitchell bites off more than he can chew once again, and even has another love interest to offer up just enough of a distraction from his work.

Top Gun: Maverick does begin with more of a purpose as the top pilots are brought in specifically to train for an intense and extremely dangerous mission, so the build-up is surely an advantage. I also noticed right away the comedic element was a bit more of a focus, especially considering they had lots to work with using the events of the original film as a reference point. They even paid homage to the iconic volleyball scene, and did an awesome job with that as well. The story also has more weight to it as far as the emotional element thanks to the strained relationship between Maverick, and his former co-pilot’s son Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, played by Miles Teller. I loved the story as I was engaged from start to finish and even wanted to stand and clap a few times, and don’t tell anyone but my eyes may have gotten a little teary a few times as well. Damn allergies.

As far as the acting is concerned, from the stars to the supporting cast I can honestly say I can’t think of any issues I had with it. First I have to talk about the man himself, Tom Cruise. Now watching the original film which showcased a handsome and charismatic then 25-year-old Cruise, and now seeing him in the sequel 34-years later, I can’t help but be blown away. I mean, look at this guy, he is definitely drinking from the fountain of youth and taking huge gulps. It is undeniable that Cruise is one of the best and most accomplished actors in the history of film, but some may not realize just how multi-talented this guy really is. His commitment to his craft is second to none as he is also a pilot in real-life, and always insists on doing his own stunts. In fact, the World War II P-51 Mustang that appears early on in the film, is owned by Cruise. Pretty cool if you ask me.

It was just so cool watching him in the original film, and seeing the leaps he has made as an actor in Top Gun: Maverick. Cruise has been acting for so long you’d almost immediately assume he has 100+ acting credits, I know I did, but he is actually at an even 50, which includes Part 1 and Part 2 of the not yet released Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (check out the preview and trailer for Part 1 here), as well as the currently filming and untitled “SpaceX Project”, and the rumored sequel to Edge of Tomorrow, which I really, really, really hope comes to fruition. Sorry to get distracted with his upcoming projects, but the moral of the story is that when Cruise agrees to a role, he makes sure it is going to be worth doing.

I was very confused initially by the character Penny Benjamin played by Jennifer Connelly, who serves as the on again off again love interest for Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick. In the original film, Mitchell rides off into the sunset with his newfound love interest Top Gun instructor Charlie, played by Kelly McGillis. I don’t want to sound like an a-hole here, but a quick Google search makes it very clear why McGillis was not going to return to star alongside Cruise. It reminds me of Leslie Mann in This Is 40, where she complains about how Paul Rudd’s character seemingly doesn’t age yet she can’t seem to get into a night club because she looks like a really old mom. So yeah, in steps Connelly. Now as I mentioned early on, I made it a point to re-watch the original film right before seeing Top Gun: Maverick, but like a dummy I was still confused.

After doing a bit of light research a few lightbulbs went off in my head. Connelly’s character Penny Benjamin was mentioned on two separate occasions during the original film, once by Goose when he was razzing Mitchell about his “sexual escapades”, and next when Goose’s wife, played by Meg Ryan, brings up Mitchell’s wild history with Benjamin in front of Charlie, so I applaud the writing team for the audible and bringing in Connelly who was fantastic by the way. Not only is she beautiful and just seemed to own her role, her chemistry with Cruise felt genuine, and was a big reason for why the film worked so well. I hate to say it, but I absolutely prefer Penny over Charlie #TeamPenny.

The best addition to the cast in my opinion which was also the most impactful, is without a doubt Miles Teller, who I personally love as an actor. Teller takes on the role of Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, the son of the Goose character from the first film, played by Anthony Edwards. Teller’s contribution to the story cannot be understated as his relationship with Cruise’s character was the driving force of the film. He had fantastic chemistry with Cruise, and once again proved why he is one of the better next generation of actors. Not only does he look the part with Goose’s signature mustache, he also has enough of a resemblance which helped with the believability as well. Plus like Goose he is taller than Cruise, but I mean, who isn’t. Sorry, unnecessary jab and I apologize just in case the man himself is reading this. The complex relationship between Cruise and Teller that develops throughout the film will be one of the biggest takeaways for viewers, I know it was for me. So yeah, massive casting decision.

As far as the supporting cast is concerned, Val Kilmer made his return as his iconic Tom “Iceman” Kazansky character, and even though he plays a very small part this time around, he is still a big contributing factor within the story. I really liked how they respectfully involved the legendary actor who has been battling throat cancer, making sure he was still an integral part of the film. Jon Hamm was another huge addition as Beau ‘Cyclone’ Simpson, a former Top Gun alum and Maverick’s new boss as he takes on his role back at the Top Gun academy. The former star of the hit series Mad Men, Hamm is an incredible actor so he was able to match Cruise in some of the more dramatic scenes, and I really liked how the relationship between their two characters developed. Charles Barnell did a really nice job as Solomon ‘Warlock’ Bates, the other authority figure alongside Simpson. I enjoyed their dynamic as Bates seemed to have a bit of a soft spot for Mitchell compared to Simpson, who seems to look forward to what he feels is inevitable failure.

Ed Harris was great as expected, but he played a very limited role. I really liked Bashir Salahuddin in his role as Bernie ‘Hondo’ Coleman, as he helped with the comedic element of the film. The new generation of pilots, aside from Teller of course, consists of Glen Powell as Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin, who was essentially the new Iceman. His competitive relationship with Teller is very similar to the Maverick vs Iceman battle in the original film. As I said before I thought everyone was really good, so I have to give a shout out to the rest of the supporting cast of Top Gun pilots including Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman (yes, the son of talented veteran actor Bull Pullman), Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Jack Schumacher, Manny Jacinto, Kara Wang, Greg Tarzan Davis (awesome middle name), Jake Picking, and last but not least, Raymond Lee. Everyone I mentioned deserves a ton of credit for appearing in such an incredible film.

I was genuinely impressed with director Joseph Kosinski, and felt like he handled everything pretty much as well as he could have. From his unique camera work during the action sequences to his commitment to ensuring Top Gun: Maverick paid tribute to the original, he was just on fire. During each takeoff you could almost feel the adrenaline the pilots were feeling thanks to Kosinski. I can’t wait for his next film, the Netflix original sci-fi drama Spiderhead (preview and trailer here), starring Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller, set to release next month. Considering his directorial debut was the massive 2010 film TRON: Legacy, Kosinski is making a name for himself when it comes to big time action films.

As you can tell from the trailer, the flying sequences are incredible. It really is one white-knuckle scene after another, starting with the first five minutes of the film. Tom Cruise insisted Top Gun: Maverick prioritize actual stunts and real flying over CGI, and it really shows. The film uses minimal CGI and green screen effects, and even the cockpit shots are taken during actual in-flight sequences. For this to be possible, much of the cast had to take extensive G-Force training sessions to ensure they would withstand the physical elements of the G-Force pressure during flights.

If I wasn’t eating my popcorn or enjoying my ice cold soda, my mouth was wide open during every single one of these intense scenes. They were just so, so good. In fact, I keep going back and re-watching the trailer to get my fix. Another calling card for Top Gun: Maverick is the score and soundtrack, which was nothing short of top notch thanks to talented composer Lorne Balfe. He recently handled the music for the Michael Bay action thriller Ambulance which I reviewed just over a month ago (full review here), as well as the Prime Video sci-fi thriller, The Tomorrow War. His contribution to the film really helped to ramp up the feeling of nostalgia. I also really liked the commitment to quality cinematography this time around thanks to great work from cinematographer Claudio Miranda, known for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, TRON: Legacy, and Life of Pi.

THE BAD

Admittedly, I’m still riding the high of Top Gun: Maverick to the point where I can’t seem to identify any weaknesses for the film. Or perhaps they just don’t exist. I suppose I could say the fact that it took over two years to finally release, but that is more of a pandemic issue and I refuse to go down that rabbit hole. Everything about the film just felt so intentional and authentic without a single scene that seemed slow or out of place. Plus, even at two hours and 10 minutes, it absolutely flew by. The ending may seem a bit predictable, but it still had me smiling ear to ear and left me feeling extremely satisfied. So yeah, I’m going to chalk up the negatives as a big “Goose” egg, pun intended of course.

THE VERDICT

A tour de force of epic proportions when it comes to quality filmmaking and effective sequels, Top Gun: Maverick embodies everything that made the original film an instant classic, while adding more humor, a higher bar for thrilling edge of your seat action sequences, and a few not so subtle tugs on the old heart strings. Director Joseph Kosinski really hit it out of the park. From the identical intro to Maverick’s iconic jacket, this is how you give fans what they want while ensuring newcomers have more than enough to sink their teeth into. Simply referring to Top Gun: Maverick as a superior sequel is a disservice to both films which are such seamless continuations of each other, and I honestly couldn’t imagine a more perfect ending. As soon as the credits hit the screen, I was looking forward to seeing it again. Do yourself a favor and see Top Gun: Maverick in theaters as soon as possible so you can “feel the need for speed!” You can thank me later.