“After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.” -IMDB
I’m sure you’ve heard it the past few weeks from your uncle, your coworker, the guy at the grocery store. But, it’s true. Top Gun: Maverick is (shockingly) amazing. Let me clarify…
I definitely recommend (re)watching the original before going into this film. Much of the premise is based on the original and while you could probably suss out what was happening, it’s more fun to have the original in mind to compare and contrast with.
The filmmakers must have taken notes from what all of the other sequels and remakes of late have done wrong, because they avoided all of the usual wrong turns. Instead of trying to remake the original, it gave the audience moments that they wanted (shirtless sports moments, callbacks via music, and an incredibly tender Maverick/Iceman reunion) without feeling like it was trying to match the original storyline turn for turn.
Even Tom Cruise, who I have…um…let’s say strong negative feelings for, couldn’t ruin this movie. This is where we separate the art from the artist and give Cruise his props for honoring the legacy of the original, including bringing back Val Kilmer. It also brought the storyline into the 2020s and did so without feeling stilted, like let’s say a And Just Like That.
The only thing I can criticize the movie for is a rather unbelievable last twenty minutes; however, I am willing to forgive given how on the edge of my seat I was.
It was a perfect summertime blockbuster with lovable characters to root for, a perfect blend of drama and humor, and a feel good nostalgia that will leave you smiling the whole drive home.
Rating: 8 out 10 Claire Bears
🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻
If you like this movie, you should also watch: Stop fighting it, go watch the original.
Streaming: In Theaters
With: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller
Directed By: Joseph Kosinski
Let Me Clarify 