Top Gun Maverick

Going to the theater to watch a movie on the big screen has always been an iconic part of my life. A chance to unwind, relax, and escape from the rigors of the real world for a few hours while getting immersed in an alternate reality. Add in the unforgettable smell of artery-hardening, fake-butter-covered popcorn that greets you like a warm hug as soon as you step through those doors, and you catch a heavy dose of nostalgia. Some of the best memories of my childhood were going to movie theaters with my friends. It helps that I lived through decades that had the best fashion, music and of course movies—the 80’s and 90’s.

I’ve never attempted to write a movie review before because so many people seem to have an opinion and many write them with flourishing, overly complex language, like they are getting paid by Webster’s Dictionary. I never wanted to add to the muddy waters of thousands of reviews, but after watching this movie, something stirred, and I have to get these thoughts out. So here I am, writing my first movie review.

I often read reviews on movies I both like and dislike. There’s a bit of guilty, perverse pleasure in reading negative reviews on movies I despise. I suppose it’s a way to validate my feelings on the movie and find like minds to commiserate on.

When I read reviews on movies I haven't seen yet, I try not to let them sway me one way or another. Often when a bunch of “professional” reviewers hate a movie or spew a lot of corrosive language over a movie, it typically increases my desire to see the hated movie. Perfect examples are the Transformers movies. Despite all the hatred they have received by esteemed and established critics, I love them—though there are some really bad parts and actors in many of them—no one will ever persuade me to hate them.

When the original Top Gun came out, I was 9 years old. I remember this time because my older sister was going to the movies and unfortunately for her, she had to take her 6-year younger, bratty brother with her. For whatever reason she asked me which movie I wanted to see (as I have reflected back on this memory many times, I have to say I give her mad respect, because I’m not sure I would have given the same option haha!). The potential movies were Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, or Top Gun. I asked what each movie was about. She told me one was about a boy who pretended he was sick and stayed home from school while going on crazy adventures. “It’s a comedy,” she flippantly said. In my mind it only sounded vaguely interesting. “But Top Gun is about jet planes, war, and guns!” my sister said as she tried to appeal to my boyish tendencies. I was contemplating the fast jets but somewhere in there she said it was kind of a love story. That sealed it. I was a young, pre-pubescent boy, no interest at ALL in a love story. I think she really wanted to see Top Gun, but she messed up by saying “love story.”

I mention all that to say I didn’t get to see Top Gun in the theater, which I find myself slightly dejected about that now. I did see in on a massive 27” Color television when it came out on VHS tape, and I loved it! Still, to this day I enjoy Top Gun, even though to me, it really hasn’t held up as well as I thought it would.

I watched the original again a few days ago, and enjoyed it as I always do, though there were a few eye-rolling moments. Maybe it’s because I couldn’t truly get behind the dated, cocky attitudes all the men had in the movie. Getting slightly more mature in my older age is showing I suppose. Not to mention, it seems that fighter planes and military dogfights have quickly become an antiquated idea. With stealth capabilities and drone-pilotless fighting becoming the future of aerial military strategy, fighter jets have become relics of the not-so-distant past. This is something Maverick addressed in the movie. Even though the plot felt a little forced just so they could make this movie, at the same time it actually felt rather feasible.

I saw the trailer back before the virus flipped the world inside out; I made up my mind and hated the movie instantly. The trailer told me that this movie was going to be a cheap remake of the original. Hollywood keeps trying to remake great movies from the 80’s and 90’s but they only succeed in destroying the faith in moviegoers. Think of remakes like Overboard, Red Dawn, and Footloose. Movie producers and execs need to leave these massive, classic masterpieces alone because they’re not going to make them better. Just don’t do it.

The Maverick trailer looked eerily similar to the original Top Gun except the second-best Maverick was now going to be taking the place of Viper as a flight instructor instead of the arrogant, rule-breaking pilot-prodigy.

In my head I already had the movie figured out. Here’s the basic 15 second rundown: Ride a motorcycle real fast while jets take off nearby, beach volleyball scene, love interest with conflict, teach a bunch of cocky-assed pilots they’re not as good as they think they are, masculine-testosterone-fueled-machismo shoving match, sing karaoke at a bar, defeat the enemy, everyone is happy in the end. In a nutshell, that’s pretty much what this movie is.

Before you think I’m writing a hate-piece on Maverick, I have to tell you, I really enjoyed this movie. More than I wanted to. I was dead set in hating this movie; I wasn’t going to waste my time or money on it. While visiting friends I hadn’t seen in several months, they and my girlfriend made plans to go see Maverick. I tagged along while keeping my negative thoughts to myself. I knew we would end up discussing all the reasons why we hated the movie over a few beers and good food. That’s what I was excited about. We all walked into the theater, they were obviously happy and excited. Their faces were plastered with happy smiles stretching from ear to ear like that Soundgarden video Black Hole Sun. I on the other hand slumped down into the chair with my arms crossed like a belligerent child forced to go to the dentist. Despite my unnecessary negativity, I soon found myself completely engrossed in the movie, silently cheering everyone on while adrenaline steadily pumped through my veins. My eyes were glued to the screen, my heart thumped as fast as the fighter jets, my knuckles shone white as I gripped the armrests with everything I had. I couldn’t help but love this movie!

I won’t be giving away any spoilers, so you can read on without worry if you have not seen it yet. If you haven’t…GO AND WATCH IT NOW!

Top Gun Maverick started off nearly exactly as Top Gun did back in ‘86. The iconic Kenny Loggins song is playing while jets take off and land on an aircraft carrier “Somewhere in the Pacific.” I wear a smirk of knowing disgust. What did I tell you? Another disgraceful money-grab from uninspired, lazy producers. Soon the camera switches to an aged Maverick, though he still looks pretty good. Then he has to lovingly pull out the iconic jacket that somehow is still in pristine condition after so many years. You soon realize that Maverick is no longer a young man with an attitude problem and total disregard for authority, he’s a 50 something man with an attitude problem and total disregard for authority. I feel like someone with these issues wouldn’t last long in a military setting that thrives on orders and complete obedience. Somehow this relic with a disregard for obedience has managed to hang on to a job. I’m rolling my eyes and shaking my head at this point.

The next scene leads to a quantum leap in ignoring logic that makes me wonder if this movie—that’s steeped in reality—suddenly shifted genres to science fiction. My hate meter for Top Gun Maverick is going through the roof at this point. Then the movie did something I can’t stand; it completely left no explanation as to how he survived utterly unscathed. Had this been reality, the movie would have ended right there because no one would ever survive what he went through. Did the Marvel Universe take over the Top Gun franchise?

“But it’s entertainment, it’s not supposed to be real.” Yes, I can agree with that to some extent, but this isn’t Dr. Strange in the Multiverse, this is a “realistic” movie that is bound by laws we have in real life. That glaring, science fiction plot hole aside, the movie went on to show several cheap clones from the original film.

A new character who had a very minor part from the original is introduced in Maverick, but he looks like an absolute clone of an iconic character from Top Gun. Why did they do that? It seemed to me like a cheap visual trick because the director thought the audience is too stupid to figure it out any other way. The other clones include the motorcycle scene, great balls of fire at the piano, a character that seemed to emulate Iceman’s cockiness but amped it up so much I couldn’t stand seeing him on the screen and nearly gagged every time his face was shone, and the love interest. Kelly McGillis was replaced by Jennifer Connelly, but she still drove a Porsche…a newer, but still classic version. Why? And it looked like Penny (Connelly) lived in the same place Charlie was staying in. It was just a quick glimpse from the outside, but it was on a street corner, palm trees swayed in the background, and the outside layout looked very nostalgic. These things could have been changed to make this movie seem less like a remake and more like a sequel. Instead, it seems like a strange conglomeration of both.

Remember the beach volleyball scene? Muscled, oiled, hairless bodies sweating in the sun with slow motion flexing and falling in the sand. It’s still here, don’t worry, you’re not missing out. The only difference is it’s now a beach football game, and there are a few ladies playing with the bronzed, Roman god-looking men.

Despite the obvious attempt to capitalize on the success of the original by forcing in these oddly placed clones, it was ultimately a great movie.

Three things made this movie an absolute joy for me.

1. Maverick actually made a great teacher, and the practice flight scenes were a joy to behold. The visuals were much clearer, more intense, and brought on teeth clenching action. It was here that the movie hooked me and started reeling me in though I was so engrossed I didn’t even feel the barbs sticking in my flesh.

2. The flight scenes from this mission were amped up action I haven’t had the joy of witnessing in many years. The mission itself these newbies had to undertake was so impossible you knew someone was not going to make it out alive. The movie plucked hard on the heartstrings. In the first movie, we were shocked to our core, and still carry emotional damage when Goose crashed into the canopy. The impending doom of this new mission had me wondering which character(s) were going to be lost in this one. I hated and loved that feeling. I didn’t want to see anyone get killed, but I was mentally preparing for the pain I knew would come.

3. Iceman/Val Kilmer. When you see this movie, you will know what I’m talking about. I adore Val Kilmer. Some of my all-time favorite movies have starred this wonderful actor. Tombstone, Heat, The Doors (I may have an unhealthy obsession with Jim Morrison and the Doors’ music) and Willow. Say what you will about Willow it was a freaking Great movie! It not only stars the esteemed Warwick Davis, but Kilmer absolutely shines as Madmartigan.

When I found out he had throat cancer (it seems several famous people I feel close to through movies or music have gotten this horrible affliction; Eddie VanHalen, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, and Val Kilmer) I was shocked and heartbroken. I went into this movie thinking there was only going to be a picture cameo of Iceman. Much like the Ghostbusters remake when they showed the picture of Egon (RIP Harold Ramis). I can’t explain the emotions I felt when I saw Iceman on the screen again. It was truly a heartfelt/heartbreaking moment between him and Maverick. The emotions were so strong, the entire, not an empty seat in the house, movie theater started sniffling. If I wasn’t already invested in this movie before then, it would have sold me right there.

One thing I couldn’t help but notice was a heavy, almost glaringly similar comparison to Star Wars and the flight through the Death Star. I kept hearing the lines in my head, “Red Leader this is Gold Leader. We’re starting our attack run.” Star Wars fans will quickly see what I mean.

I can’t really go into much more about the movie without giving away some major spoilers, so I’m going to wrap this up. The scenes during the mission were a rollercoaster ride that had everyone, even curmudgeonly me wide-eyed, holding my breath, cheering, clapping, gasping, and biting my nails to the quick and beyond.

Yes, there were a few cheap saves that came out of nowhere when you knew the end was inevitable, but by then I was so engrossed in the film I swallowed them down and asked for more.

My final verdict on Top Gun Maverick, believe the hype and go see this movie! It’s a wonderful flick despite some obvious cringe-worthy tactics. I think I’ll go see it again.