More than 30 years ago, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell was competing for the Top Gun trophy. While in pursuit of an A-4, Maverick flew his F-14 through the Iceman’s jet wash which resulted in a loss of both engines. As his jet fell into a flat spin, both Maverick and Lieutenant Nick “Goose” Bradshaw attempted to eject from the crashing fighter jet. While Maverick survived the crash, his Radar Intercept Officer snapped his neck on the canopy and died.
After leaving the Top Gun Academy, Maverick became a test pilot and did whatever he could to avoid any form of rank advancement. Because he knew that if he were to accept any advancement in rank, he would be grounded by the Navy and would never be able to fly a jet again. Hiding from the ghosts of his past, Maverick pushed the limits of flight, in an attempt to break the Mach 10 barrier.
And break it he did, not only did he break the Mach 10 barrier, but he also destroyed the aircraft in the process. But rather than being thrown in the brig, the Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, sent him back to the Top Gun Academy to train Goose’s son, Lieutenant Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw.
If you are a fan of the original Top Gun movie, then you have probably been waiting for the past 30 years for this sequel. But that wait was well worth it. Although the only stars of the original Top Gun film to appear in the sequel, are Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer, there was plenty of B roll from the original film included as cutaways and memories. Tom Cruise also has a new love interest in the film, Penny Benjamin, who runs The Hard Deck bar, and is played by Jennifer Connelly.
There are several scenes in the movie that will leave you laughing hysterically. The overall movie is a quagmire of intertwined emotions that ultimately leave you breathless throughout the film. Very few long-awaited sequels have been able to come this close to the original film, but Top Gun Maverick will forever sit near the top of that list.
While there could have been a lot more included in the film, Top Gun Maverick deserves 5 stars.
Rating 5/5
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