Top Gun: Maverick (2022) movie review

The sequel came out 36 years after the original. In those 36 years Top Gun became a part of American history, an unforgettable piece of pop culture. Top Gun Maverick makes the most of that history by beginning the movie with the same iconic imagery we saw in the first film. Nostalgia kicks in and you can’t help but get a smile on your face along with a sense of pleasant anticipation. And the result is that you are effectively transported back to the world of Top Gun.

For the uninitiated, Top Gun is the place where American Naval fighter pilots are sent to learn strike tactics and dogfighting skills, among other things. But, only the best pilots are sent there to create an elite fighter pilot squad. Pete Mitchell (Tom Cruise), his call sign being Maverick, was sent there in the first movie and became a part of their elite history. But as his call sign suggests, Maverick doesn’t play by the rules. He is more a man of instinct. Do first and think later, is the school of thought that Maverick prescribes to. His introduction in the movie explains this all too well, as he continues on a mission that has been cancelled and keeps defying expectations and gravity while almost losing his life. After this reckless display of defiance, the Navy is understandably unhappy with him. But, they need him for a job that no one else alive is better suited for. This time, he is asked to go to Top Gun to train an elite batch of pilots to execute a near-impossible mission. And yes, the plot can be mistaken to be eerily similar to a future Mission Impossible movie where Ethan Hunt, now retired, is teaching an elite batch of spies.

So, Maverick gets on his bike, to be on his way to the new job. What he is not told though, is that one of the pilots he’ll be training is his late friend Goose’s (Anthony Edwards from the prequel) son, Rooster (Miles Teller). Rooster believes Maverick had a role to play in his father’s death even though the report from the Navy denies that.

That’s the plot, in a nutshell. To be honest, the moment you see Tom Cruise’s iconic face, you stop thinking about where the story is going. You are mesmerised, an experience best had on a big screen and enjoyed with a group. Tom Cruise is not only the last great movie star but arguably the greatest movie star that ever lived. The man gives every project his all, which is a lot by any standard. Supported by a good cast that includes Jon Hamm, playing the commander of the Naval air forces who hates Mavericks’s guts; Jennifer Connelly, playing the love interest; Glenn Powell, as a hotshot pilot called ‘Hangman’ and most of all, Val Kilmer as Iceman, who’s now become the commander in chief of the Pacific fleet.

There are plenty of callbacks to the first movie which add to the entertainment value. The volleyball scene, maybe unnecessary, but it doesn’t stop you from enjoying it.

The biggest callback to the first movie though is Miles Teller’s performance. His resemblance to Anthony Edwards from Top Gun is uncanny. Teller alters his dialogue delivery and body language to match Edwards’, incredibly. And finally, the flying sequences are out of this world! Seeing the actors from outside the plane and into the cockpit added to the genuine thrills experienced when the planes were whizzing by at break-neck speeds. 

The solid performances, the beautiful cinematography, and the amazing stuntwork, all culminate in a great third act. Where the first movie ends with the characters recognising and acknowledging each other’s professional capabilities and coming together to work as a team, the second one ends closer to the heart than the mind. This particular aspect of the film will make it timeless more so than the technical achievements which no doubt, are noteworthy. Also, watching both movies back to back is great, giving a complete and rich experience. Maverick provides wholesome entertainment and has that unique ability to be a joyful experience for the entire family.