YNOT at the Movies

It has been thirty-six years since the culturally iconic "Top Gun" (1986) made Tom Cruise a superstar for action films. Will he live up to the challenges to make this film's sequel more than three decades later and remain convincing as a top-gun pilot? The answer is a resounding yes. In "Top Gun: Maverick" (China/USA 2022 | 131 min.), directed by Joseph Kosinski, Tom Cruise shakes off any doubt about playing the same titular character with confidence and sensibility. Together with a sharply focused storyline, exhilarating aviation action sequences, and likable performance from a diverse cast, this film is much more entertaining than many other Marvel films that are populating the theater complexes these days.

Maverick is the call sign (given to each NAVY pilot) for Captain Pete Mitchell (Tom Cruise). After more than 30 years, while most of his old flight mates, such as Iceman (Val Kilmer), have become star-bearing Admirals, Maverick remains as a test pilot for the NAVY. That's because he wants to fly in the sky and be who he is.

His dedication is on full display during the awe-striking opening scene where Maverick takes a joyride to test the 10 g-force when he flies with the newest fighter-jet in exceptionally high speed. Instead of being punished, he is summoned to become a flight instructor for a group of young top-gun pilots to execute an almost impossible mission—destroying Iran's nuclear weapon development site that is under maximum airspace protection.

Even though disappointed that he cannot be part of the mission, Maverick takes on the job anyway. But he immediately faces a tough dilemma: his late wingman Goose's son Rooster (Miles Teller) is also on the training team. Is his emotion linking to the past going to affect his judgment?

Rooster is not the only person that causes Maverick to reflect on the past. Between the intensive training schedules, Maverick also begins his romantic relationship with Penny (Jennifer Connelly), a single mom and the owner of a local bar for the sailors, who was once his love interest in the original film. He also gets inspiration and advice from Iceman who battles cancer (as Val Kilmer does in real life).

But Maverick doesn't just relive the past. He moves forward and leads the team of energetic, brave, and diverse generation-Z pilots into a mission that is nothing short of a miracle.

This sequel surprisingly exceeds all expectations in its storytelling, action-sequence execution, and acting. If you have ever seen the incredible maneuvers of the fighter jets during the annual fleet week, you know how amazing these pilots can be when they fly faster than the speed of sound. It's remarkable that this movie is actually shot in these aircraft flying in the sky instead of inside a video game capsule with simulated images. You literally feel the impact and motion when the planes tear up the air with an awesome speed.

What's even more impressive is that the storyline is tightly focused just like flying these planes with impeccable precision. The emotion of these characters is raw, genuine, and convincing. Although the film seamlessly blends its plot with a few story points in the original "Top Gun," you don't have to re-watch that 1986 film to refresh your memory in order to enjoy this sequel. However, re-watching that film will certainly help to recognize this film's tributes to its original characters, as well as to the late director Tony Scott, in a couple of fantastic shots of Tom Cruise on a motorcycle in the sunset.

Thirty-six years later, Tom Cruise proves that he is still the top-gun of his craft, and he earns that reputation just like his character Maverick did.

"Top Gun: Maverick" opens on Friday, May 27, 2022.