Movie Review: Top Gun Maverick (2022)

Top Gun Maverick (2022) directed by Joseph Kosinski

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is still a Navy captain thirty-five years after his first cinematic adventure. He's doing test pilot work, flying experimental planes at high Mach speeds (going for 10!). That program is being shut down by Admiral Cain (Ed Harris) who thinks unmanned aircraft are the future. Maverick gets pulled to a new assignment, training the "best of the best" for a seemingly impossible mission--destroy an under-construction nuclear facility that is in a valley between two steep mountains. The area is covered by surface-to-air missiles, so pilots will have to fly in under radar. An enemy airbase is nearby, so they have to be quick to avoid dog-fighting superior aircraft. Maverick reports to the San Diego training facility. He also reconnects with old flame Peggy (Jennifer Connelly), who owns a local bar and has a teenage daughter. That's a bit awkward, but not nearly as awkward as one of the Top Guns he has to train: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (Miles Teller). Bradshaw is the son of "Goose" from the first movie, the pilot who died because of Maverick's hot shot ways. Bradshaw hasn't forgiven Maverick. The training goes on as the drama ensues.

The movie is a crowd-pleasing, star-driven, pop-corn action flick. Maverick is the central character and has a preternatural level of competence. He's an ace pilot who can surpass Mach 10 and pull 10 Gs. If they make another sequel he will probably do both at the same time. Even though he's training other younger pilots for the mission, viewers expect he will be on the mission. The movie does not disappoint. Neither does it surprise the viewers. The rest of the plot is easy to predict. The aerial combat scenes are thrilling and the tension is high for the final mission. A tiny curveball is thrown in which is not very believable but helps to wrap up narrative threads. Cruise is at his charming best, constantly smiling and occasionally showing off his biceps and triceps as he works on his plane's engine overhead (he not only flies, he's a mechanic too!?!). The rest of the cast is good but the movie clearly centers on Cruise who is a very enjoyable actor to watch. This movie is the sort where you put your brain in neutral and enjoy the ride.

Recommended--this isn't great drama but a whole lot of fun.