Review: Top Gun: Maverick

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is sent back to Top Gun to train the most elite pilots in the U.S for a mission they may not come back from. This includes the late Goose's son, Bradley "Rooster" (Miles Teller) whom Pete screwed over in the name of protecting him years before. Maverick hasn't grown out of his old ways, and now that might be catching up with him.

I'm of the opinion that the original Top Gun was just ~fine.~ It's a perfectly watchable movie but it's never one I felt strongly about one way or another. When the trailers for Maverick initially premiered, I thought it was just a Cruise vanity project. And don't get me wrong, it absolutely is but it's a fun as hell popcorn flick as well.

This is what a "popcorn" movie is supposed to be. A lot of people tend to turn their nose up at tentpoles but they absolutely have a place in cinema. Maverick is so much more fun than the original ever was for me. There's still plenty of call backs to the original for its fans to feel nostalgic about, but the action is where we see a huge upgrade. It starts thrilling and ends thrilling. The third act itself is pretty extraordinary, not stopping where you think it would.

I really liked the cast here. I don't care for Cruise as an actor but it's hard to deny he's really good in action movies. He's become a character in itself. Jennifer Connelly (who is so beautiful I can hardly stand it) is a great girlfriend for Maverick. Her life doesn't revolve around him, which I loved. Teller, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Glen Powell, Jay Ellis and Danny Ramirez were all perfectly cast as pilots Maverick has to train. For me, this cast was fare more interesting than the original. Powell also has the most glorious punchable face. Perfect casting.

So is it for you? I'm glad I saw this on the big screen after originally deeming it a DVD watch. If you like action and fun, see it on the biggest screen with the loudest sound system possible.

Grade: A-