Top Gun: Maverick

Top Gun: Maverick movie review written by Zianna Weston

Written by: Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr., and Peter Craig

Directed by: Joseph Kosinksi

Rating: that’s hot

Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) may not be the highest ranking pilot that the Navy has, but he is arguably their best pilot. When the Navy is faced with an impossible mission to stop the creation of foreign nuclear weapons they are left with no choice. It’s time to bring back Maverick.

Let’s just cut straight to the chase.

Is Top Gun: Maverick a good movie?

Hell yes it is! The original Top Gun film is a love it or hate it piece of nostalgia. Full of hot and steamy men, phallic objects galore, and a kick ass soundtrack, it is a serious 80s vibe. But a few crucial components that are missing from the OG Top Gun are a plot, a climax that we can care about, and character development.

Enter Top Gun: Maverick. Without spoiling anything I will say that the aforementioned flaws of Top Gun are all rectified in the sequel. Tom Cruise gives a brilliant performance as the lovably cocky Maverick. He is arguably more attractive now, and his character has an edge to him. He knows what it’s like to have loved and lost, and you can see that the death of his best friend Goose irrevocably altered the course of his life.

There is a particularly poignant scene between Maverick and Ice Man (Val Kilmer). In real life, Val Kilmer has lost his voice due to cancer. They incorporate this beautifully into the film and it’s easy to get lost in this moment where two legendary actors are reflecting over the beginnings of their careers, and seeing where life has taken them. Val Kilmer is still a phenomenal actor and I selfishly hope to see him star in more films in the future!

We get some new additions to the cast including Jennifer Connelly as Maverick’s love interest and Miles Teller as Rooster, Goose’s son. Both actors have great chemistry with Tom Cruise. The sexual tension between Connelly and Cruise is delightful, and the conflict between Teller and Cruise feels authentic and steers clear of ever being too over the top.

I have to give a special shout out to the hotness of this cast. Seriously, Top Gun: Maverick is the perfect summer blockbuster and all I can hope is that Top Gun Summer aka Mustache Summer happens because let me tell you, I am HERE FOR IT.

Written by Zianna Weston