Top Gun: Maverick Review — A Retro Revival Done Right

After being delayed a few times, not to mention the 36-year-wait, it seemed like the Top Gun sequel may have missed the boat. However, Top Gun: Maverick is a welcome return to the golden era of popcorn action films, delivering a fantastic movie that doesn’t overindulge in the nostalgia, but gives it a nod, while delivering a fitting arc for Tom Cruise’s titular character.

While it was obviously retro-fitted into the universe of Top Gun, this particular sequel is so well crafted that it almost feels like it was planned from the get-go, and the three-decade wait was to give the story more context and weight. Witnessing an older and more disenchanted Maverick battling his past demons, as well as modern aviation technology, as he comes to terms with the fact that the world is moving on is an interesting and captivating watch. Cruise’s previously self-assured and cocky Maverick is now somewhat in over his head with regards to teaching a new crew of fighter pilots, and watching his transition from former team member to leader makes for some great scenes.

As expected, the performance from Cruise is solid and it’s easy to tell that he’s ‘all in’ when it comes to these passion projects of his. The veteran actor recaptures that 80s’ charm and swagger immediately, but also showcases a more vulnerable and mature side to Maverick, something Cruise has obviously become accustomed to delivering in other projects. The supporting cast is fantastic too, with Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glenn Powell, and Ed Harris showcasing their abilities, with a special mention to Miles Teller, playing Goose’s son Rooster, bringing a lot of heart to the movie.

The on-foot action and drama are as entertaining as the egos and rivalry battles of the original movie, with extra gravity thrown due to the complex relationship between Maverick and Rooster, the son of Maverick’s former wingman, which really acts as the anchor for the entire film.

Of course, it’s hard not to talk about a Top Gun movie without the real star of the show: the jets. Director Joseph Kosinski, who is actually best known for his work on CGI-fest Tron: Legacy, went to the nth degree to ensure that as many practical shots and real-life jets were captured, and he delivered. The footage of the F/A-18 Hornets is spectacular, and the cockpit shots of the actors deliver convincing (although, they’re probably real) exclamations, gasps, and reactions to the immense G-force and inertia of the jets tell a story in itself. If you’re looking for some sun-soaked sequences of awesome-looking jets launching off air-craft carriers, barrel rolling into canyons, and dodging one another, you don’t get better than this.

Top Gun: Maverick may be hitting cinemas during this era of nostalgic retro revivals, and to an extent, it is exactly that, but it’s also so much more, bringing a relevant and much-needed arc to the character of Maverick while introducing a wealth of new interesting faces and ideas that the original Top Gun set up, and that now can finally be explored.