Review “Top Gun: Maverick”: a High Flight Straight to Success

Who would have thought that 36 years after being released in theaters, one of the most epic films of the late 80s would have a much better sequel? They say that the sequels never surpass the first, but what is seen in "Top Gun: Maverick" is simply worth admiring and following the example of those who want to achieve success with these movie classics. Adrenaline, love, friendship, and nostalgia, the ingredients that bring Tom Cruise back to the top with one of his most iconic characters.

The years do not seem to have passed over Captain Pete «Maverick» Mitchell, one of the best aviators (if not the best) in the United States Navy, and after more than 30 years of service, he remains in the same place where many of us met him: flying through the skies with some plane. Avoiding at all costs a rise in rank that forces him to stay on the ground, Maverick's new and perhaps last assignment will be to train a group of new pilots for a specialized and dangerous mission. What happens since then is a journey of emotions impossible to properly describe in words.

For this sequel to "Top Gun" the director is Joseph Kosinski, who already worked with Tom Cruise on the film "Oblivion." Likewise, among the writers, there is also another acquaintance of the actor: Christopher McQuarrie, who directed him in "Jack Reacher" and in the latest installments of "Mission: Impossible". But it is also worth noting the quality of the cast that accompanies him on stage; Miles Teller as Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw; Jennifer Connelly as Penelope "Penny" Benjamin; Jon Hamm as Vice Admiral Beau "Cyclone" Simpson; Ed Harris as Rear Admiral Chester "Hammer" Cain; Glen Powell as Lieutenant Jake "Hangman" Seresin; among many others.

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More Action, More Danger, More Epic, and Higher!

First of all, there is an essential detail that must be mentioned. If you are someone who has never seen the first film (we recommend that you do it soon) and you are going to see this one, do not worry, since "Top Gun: Maverick" works perfectly as an independent film, but it also throws you some capsules so that you understand certain things of its history. In fact, for the most nostalgic, we will see characters like Charlie (Kelly McGillis), Goose (Anthony Edwards), and Carol Bradshaw (Meg Ryan) through archive images.

Now, what has this film done to make locals and strangers fall in love? One of those details that made both its predecessor and this one almost perfect is based on real flights with real planes. At a time when CGI is an essential part of many productions, "Top Gun: Maverick" is mostly characterized by giving viewers that sense of realism, with combat scenes and the brightest engine sounds of recent decades. Precisely, that was the seal of quality that Tom Cruise and the producers wanted to enhance despite how expensive and risky it could be.

Going deeper at this point, the only way to feel inside an F-18 cockpit was by applying this formula. To do this, both Cruise and the rest of the actors underwent real training with expert pilots to project that adrenaline to the fullest. In addition, Kosinski's touch is a tribute to what was done in 1986 by the late director Tony Scott, with wonderful shots that mix between the noise of the exteriors and the tranquility of the interiors. Visually, a point is reached where the claustrophobia and vertigo of being in the open make you feel like one of the plot.

As for Cruise, what else can be said? Not only is it a performance to match, but he is also as visionary as he is committed to his projects. The years do not seem to have passed over him or Maverick, who after this time has a calmer and more reflective demeanor, accepting the jokes of the younger ones and maintaining his essence before his superiors. In other words, this version of Maverick is the result of what happens to talented rebels over the decades. Of course, the charisma and the smile can never be left behind.

In short, "Top Gun: Maverick" is one of those few reboots of the cinema that can boast of surpassing the original, both in the technical aspect and in the background story. As you bond with the characters, enjoy the dogfights, and become captivated by the power of their sound, the plot takes unexpected turns that will take your breath away. Without a doubt, the best journey towards danger and adrenaline in 2022 will be with Pete «Maverick» Mitchell.