Top Gun: Maverick

Say what you will about Tom Cruise in real life, but, boy, does he know how to make a movie. Set 36 years after the original Top Gun film, Top Gun: Maverick sees Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) as he returns to the same flight academy that turned him into the man he is today. Tasked with training a new class of pilots — which includes his late wingman’s son, Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller) — for a mission that might very well be impossible to pull off, Maverick is faced with accomplishing something that even he is weary about getting right. What follows is a return to form not just for Tom Cruise but for the Hollywood blockbuster as a whole, as it is something that everyone needs to go to the theaters to see ASAP. I can’t stress enough how good this film is on every level. Not only is it thrilling, action-packed, emotional, character-driven, written, directed, and acted well, but it may be one of the greatest sequels ever made. And no, that’s not an exaggeration. Blowing 1986’s Top Gun out of the sky in a way that would make Goose proud, Top Gun: Maverick excels in a manner that I didn’t expect while giving audiences a story that actually has a point; a problem that the original film couldn’t rise above as it was a plotless — and if I’m being honest — entirely average movie. Chock-full of real stunts inside of real working jets and planes, my jaw was on the floor more than once while watching this sequel, with the final sequence alone necessitating me to pick it up off the floor to not look like a fool to everyone around me. Thrilling from an action standpoint and beautifully colored from a character one, Tom Cruise brings his usual charisma and commanding presence to a role that says more about the aging star and the rapidly changing Hollywood landscape that often favors CGI wizardry over real-life effects than anything else. Bolstered by a script and sense of direction that's as layered and well-thought-out as it is fun and intense, this film only falters towards the end of the third act and in spots where the ‘80s cheesiness pops in to remind us of where this franchise started. Otherwise, Top Gun: Maverick successfully pays homage to the original film and its characters (Val Kilmer’s Iceman was a treat to see) while upping the stakes, expanding the narrative, and exceeding expectations in nearly every way. So while I had maybe one or two nitpicks that stopped this film from scoring even higher, I can honestly say that this is my favorite movie of the year, if not within the past few years. Top Gun: Maverick is basically a masterpiece, so I hope it’s recognized as such this awards season. Just do me a favor and see this one in IMAX.