REVIEW: Top Gun: Maverick

Rated PG-13 • Score: 9.5/10

As far as sequels go, this movie is perhaps near or at the top of the list for the best ever done—far surpassing the original film, even if it was arguably a few decades later than it should have been.

I didn’t grow up with Top Gun, and I only recently saw the original, so admittedly much of the nostalgia leading up to this film’s release fell flat for me.

And while the first Top Gun had its moments and a strong story on paper, it didn’t work for me on numerous levels: The editing, the romance and the emotions all felt off. And for all the tension and stakes that were built up there, much of it seemed shoved to the side to make way for spectacle.

But this one—this one absolutely crushes it, delivering my favorite performance from Cruise since Jerry Maguire and my all-time favorite showing from Miles Teller, who plays Goose’s son. Likewise, the romantic storyline with Penny (Jennifer Connelly) worked masterfully, with a flirty but sweet dynamic between the two throughout the film.

Every scene packs a wallop of some kind and always in a good way;I never felt like any scene was unnecessary to move the film forward. The characters do a fabulous job of playing off one another, leaving you hating to love certain characters and loving to hate others. The action scenes are purposeful and exciting, bringing you to the edge of your seat with every bit of whiplash.

It all works seamlessly inside a well thought out and rather concise storyline, too, albeit with a bit of an annoying antagonist of sorts only identified as an “enemy” state throughout (no doubt an understandable effort to market the film effectively overseas).

As one might expect, this film was beautifully shot—as was the first. Its incorporation of certain side characters, scenery and music is sure to draw in longtime Top Gun fans, all without overdoing it, and create new fans of the franchise.

The bottom line: Whether you loved or hated the original, or you’ve never seen it, this movie is a whole lot of fun and worth your time. 9.5/10