The trend of sequels to films that are over thirty years old is still going strong and continues with Top Gun: Maverick, which was once deemed “irresponsible” by Cruise. But now thirty-six years have passed and Cruise’s vision of the film has been made more attainable. The sequel has been made and after enduring some delays it’s out now and doing very well both critically and financially. Cruise gets to reunite with Joseph Kosinski who directed him in the 2013 film Oblivion.
Following on from the end of the first film, Peter “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise) has been doing everything in his power to avoid the kind of promotion that would lead to being grounded and in an office job. He has opted instead to stay as a pilot where, after Maverick has done something that he really shouldn’t, Rear-Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain (Ed Harris) is just about to put an end to his career. But then he’s sent back to TOP GUN at the request of his old friend Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky (Val Kilmer). Vice-Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson (Jon Hamm) makes it clear that’s the only reason Maverick is there. His mission is to train a group of new recruits, one of whom is Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller) who is the son of Maverick’s deceased friend Nick “Goose” Bradshaw. This does cause Maverick to question whether or not he should be sending Bradshaw on a mission he may not return from.
Cruise has never seemed like an actor with much range. He has taken a wide range of roles throughout his career but that doesn’t mean that he can play all those different roles convincingly. He still has the same likeable charm and charisma that he’s always had and there are moments when you can see what he thinks of new recruits doing the same things and being in the same position that he was once in himself. He has one scene with Val Kilmer where it genuinely feels that he’s trying to find some emotional range and manages to succeed. You can see why Bradshaw wouldn’t think much of Maverick and his perspective is well illustrated. He’s the only one of the new recruits whose character doesn’t feel like a cliché. Which is just about all I can say for Lt Jake “Hangman” Seresin played by Glen Powell and barmaid Penelope Benjamin played by Jennifer Connelly – with whom Maverick would be expected to, and does, have a romance with. Simpson appears to be there just to disapprove of Maverick’s methods.
The screenplay was written by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, the latter fast becoming a new favourite collaborator with Cruise. The script tries hard to develop the character of Maverick and give him the kind of emotional depth that he probably didn’t receive in the first film.
Being Top Gun of course there are many flying sequences, including one that feels too drawn-out when the climax comes around. Another element of the first Top Gun that makes a return is a game of beach volleyball which Maverick claims is a team-building exercise. Things could have been paced a little better but that may just be how I see it.
There’s no question about the film looking good. That may reflect the lavish budget but there is also something to be said for Claudio Miranda’s cinematography. The flying scenes are undeniably impressive, even more so when you consider that it’s all real – no CGI is involved whatsoever. The landscapes also look very dramatic and give an impression of vast scale.
Four different people composed the score including Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe and 80s music icon Harold Faltermeyer (who did the music of the original film). I think I remember hearing what sounded like Zimmer’s bombastic sound a few times, but it’s clear that Top Gun loves its songs – Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone; Great Balls of Fire being played on piano in a bar; an excerpt from Won’t Get Fooled Again by The Who being played during one of the flying sequences. Lady Gaga takes the place of Berlin during the credits, but most of the audience is probably already leaving when she starts and personally I’ve never thought much of her music. But yet here she is with a song called Hold My Hand – it does sound like something from the 80s but still very much Lady Gaga. One Republic have a song during the volleyball scene but I don’t think I really noticed it.
As a whole I thought the film was… okay, but I don’t think I entirely agree with the level of praise it’s been getting. I can see where it’s coming from, nothing more than two hours’ entertainment not trying to be anything else. Which makes a change in an era when films seem much more concerned with pushing agendas and ideologies. I know Cruise has had a shaky personal life and his beliefs are questionable, but there is no denying that he has made quite a career and eventual legacy for himself as a genuine star. He also has the two-part finale to Mission Impossible coming up soon. People have been wanting this film to happen for years and the effort to make it as good as it could possibly be has certainly been made, so that’s something that has to be respected. I guess it’s just unfortunate for me that Top Gun: Maverick didn’t take my breath away.
