“In this life, it’s not what you hope for; it’s not what you deserve – it’s what you take!” Tom Cruise persevered; after 36 years, he has brought a sequel to life.
Cruise (Rain Man, A Few Good Men, Mission Impossible franchise) reprises his starring role as top US Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell from the hit 1986 film Top Gun. Top Gun: Maverick is a thrilling ride on the edge of the seat. Trust your heart more than your eyes because few people have looked this good in a cockpit.
Watching Maverick is fun, especially since Cruise enjoys playing his part.
After over three decades of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the boundaries as a brave test pilot and dodging the rank advancements that would keep him grounded. To keep doing that, he’s avoided promotions to senior positions as the admiral for a humble – “but much-decorated” – “captain.”
Challenging assignments, he pulls another one of his stunts. He is sent to the Top Gun academy (where he was once famous) to work as an instructor responsible for training a new generation of pilots for an extremely risky mission.
The emotional core of the film lies in the interactions between Maverick and one of the pilots in the mission training group, Lieutenant Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller, Whiplash, The Divergent Series), the son of Maverick’s late best friend, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (played by Anthony Edwards in Top Gun).
Maverick’s new love interest is Penelope “Penny” Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly, A Beautiful Mind), a single mother, bar owner, and the daughter of a former Admiral.
The cast includes Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Val Kilmer, Ed Harris, and Monica Barbaro.
Cruise insisted on filming the aerial footage with real planes and without digital effects. Seeing the movie in the air is exciting because you feel like you’re riding with them in the cockpit!
Director Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy, Oblivion) ​​adds exuberance and wit as we see a fearless test pilot against the familiar backdrop of Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone.
Cruise kills them in that bomber jacket, controls the skies, burns the roads, and still has some serious money. Even though the age can be seen in close-ups, those pearly whites shine brightly!
It’s worth the wait because Maverick is still the Top Gun. Cruise confirms his famous quote from the original: “I feel the need, the need for speed.” It’s an entertaining ride…when the sound barrier is broken again!
