Top Gun Maverick Review

May 29, 2022 at 7:50pm
By Jason Stettner

It’s about time that we once again enter the danger zone, as Top Gun has returned. It’s been a number of decades but Maverick (Tom Cruise) has never stopped pushing things to the edge. In that pursuit he’s ended up back where things basically began, but teaching a new generation to do the impossible.

A sort of non-descript mission is thrown ahead and it’s up to the top tier pilot to give the younger skilled group a real lesson in advanced aviation. It’s not just that however, as the personal life of Maverick comes into play. Tying up loose ends with a lost love, reconnecting with an aging pal and finally trying to make things right with the son of a long lost friend.

That’s with Rooster (Miles Teller) who despises Maverick for what he’s done and the two definitely clash throughout the course of this experience. It’s quite a journey, one filled with action alongside some more emotional bits.

If you haven’t seen the original it’s not necessarily required viewing for this one as it touches base on that quite a bit yet at the same time it will be more impactful if you see them together. There are of course many obstacles on this journey and it’s certainly a surprise to see how everything plays out. Some bits of it were maybe a tad ridiculous but it was fun the whole way through.

This is a very beautifully shot film, from a classic perspective it tonally and visually feels like the original in terms of presentation. It’s got some quick bits but also really lets you feel a sense of scale which is fantastic. It’s a really warm feeling presentation that adds a bit of heat here or there as you watch the planes swoosh across the screen. It’s got the right balance of tension filled with softer moments and I felt it delivered on multiple fronts in a way I hadn’t expected.

I will note that it did feel a tad long, could have been a little tighter yet at the same time I certainly enjoyed the whole experience. There are some great performances here, fun twists and enough jet engine to make up for the last few decades. It’s an impressive showcase of aviation, speed and Tom Cruise doing his signature modern activities which was fun.

The Conclusion

Top Gun Maverick is a worthy follow-up featuring the challenges of flight in the modern era while leaning on strong foundations of the past. It’s fun, it’s exciting and it keeps you tuned in the whole way through. It could have been a little tighter but they did keep on coming up with fun twists to keep you focused. There’s a good balance of music with calm action and the signature elements of well put together Tom Cruise movies.

It’s rather exciting to dive into and head right into that danger zone once again. It’s such a thrill ride and will likely be looked back upon perhaps even more fondly than the original as this was very well put together. They balance things well and improve upon many of the core foundations of just what Top Gun is all about.

Top Gun Maverick Review at Theater with Standard Viewing
Screening Provided by Taro PR

Rating Overall: 9.0