Review by John Delia
Top Gun: Maverick opens this weekend with a sequel that’s heart pumping brilliant. A long time in the waiting, the original that was made in 1986 has had a 36 year hiatus. But, the wait was worth it as with today’s special effects, the action film blows the doors off the theater. And with less romance and more drama, this one has little time for napping and more action entertainment.
Following his years of training we saw Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) missing the mark from becoming the top pilot, but earning the grade of Lieutenant. Add a few years and now a Captain in the Navy, we find Maverick being called for a special assignment. He’s headed back to Top Gun to teach a squad of pilots how to fly into an almost impossible target and come out alive.
Top Gun: Maverick gets very explosive, but not before we find Maverick hooking up with mission overseer Lieutenant Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly). This time however, we don’t get treated to the steamy sexy kissing scene (with Kelly McGillis) that the original film made Cruise a heartthrob. That said, Jennifer Connelly does give McGillis a run for the money when it comes to pressing some bravado buttons.
The production of Top Gun: Maverick is under the guidance of producers Jerry Bruckheimer (Armageddon, Con Air), Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible), David Ellison (The Tomorrow War), and Christopher McQuarrie (Mission Impossible-Fallout) and with this kind of mussel you can bet it’s the reason why the film is so exciting. The 20 minute finale is one of the best I’ve seen in a while and the non-stop unpredictable scenes should blow you away. Of course I saw the film the best way possible in IMAX and I recommend that highly, but Top Gun Maverick is also available in Dolby Atmos auditoriums in select theaters that should do the trick.
Whatever way you see Top Gun: Maverick, I would be curious to know how you liked the film. It’s rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of intense action, and some strong language. If you are into a lot of high flying aggression, a very good dramatic storyline and an experience you’ll never forget, jump into your cockpit and fly to see Top Gun: Maverick. Oh, and I bet you won’t get the opening & credits song “Danger Zone” out of your head for a good while.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis with Ed Harris and Val Kilmer
Directed By: Joseph Kosinski
Genre: Action, Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense action, and some strong language
Running Time: 2 hrs. 11 min.
Opening Date: May 27, 2022
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Released in: Theaters, IMAX, Dolby Atmos