Say and think what you want about Tom Cruise – there’s no denying the 59-year-old is one of Hollywood’s most intriguing stars to date.
Perhaps his wacky Scientology beliefs are on to something, given how he never seems to age and could easily be mistaken to be 20 years younger than he actually is.
In addition to this possible immortality, the man truly is dedicated to his craft, given how he often insists on doing his own stunts no matter how dangerous.
While most actors his age might relegate themselves to less strenuous roles, Cruise seems to have no reservations whatsoever.
It also helps that, even without these death-defying acts, Cruise is a genuinely capable actor, with wide range and strong screen presence.
And with the long-awaited “Top Gun: Maverick”, which opened on Thursday, he shows again why he is among Hollywood’s most respected celebrities.
The original movie was released back in 1986, long before many of FMT’s younger readers would even have been born.
With so many remakes and reboots turning out to be less than stellar, one would be right to worry about this film. The first “Top Gun” remains an iconic piece of cinema that propelled the then young and (still) hunky Cruise to Hollywood stardom.
That said, do you need to watch it to figure out what’s going on in this follow-up? Not at all! “Maverick” impressively welcomes fans and newcomers alike, allowing everyone to be up to speed on the plot.
Set decades after the events of the first film, it begins with the titular character, Cruise’s Peter “Maverick” Mitchell, being summoned by the US Navy to perform a task.
A target in a hostile nation – let’s call it “Not Russia” – needs to be blown to bits, and Maverick has to train a group of elite pilots to pull off the dangerous mission.
Despite being a talented fighter pilot, Maverick finds the role of being a teacher to be daunting, and his students initially don’t think much of him.
To complicate matters, one of them carries a grudge: Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller) blames Maverick for the death of his father, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw. Played by Anthony Edwards, his demise in the first film is sorely remembered.
In addition, Maverick’s superior, Cyclone (Jon Hamm), is sceptical of his methods and distrusts him.
With just a few weeks to train these pilots to succeed and survive, Maverick has a great burden to bear, one he hopes to see through.
Given that this mission seems… impossible, you can, to some extent, predict what is going to happen in the 137-minute runtime. But this is not a bad thing.
Fans will be delighted to see many cast members of the first film return. Val Kilmer makes a pleasant comeback to the silver screen, reprising his role as Thomas “Iceman” Kazansky, Maverick’s rival turned ally.
His appearance is more akin to a cameo but, somehow, this makes his screen time even more memorable. Perhaps as an allusion to the actor’s battle with throat cancer, Iceman barely gets to say a word – but the few he does utter are powerful, and enough to keep Maverick going.
Character drama aside, it would not be a spoiler to say this film has its share of action scenes – and boy, are they good! It is amazing to see a Hollywood production dedicate itself to using good ol’ practical effects instead of CGI.
The flying scenes were shot with actual fighter jets, and it shows: as the planes swoop through the air at top speeds, barely touching the earth, viewers will no doubt be filled with adrenaline.
It also provides insight into the thrills and dangers of aerial combat – apparently, flying into battle is not the same as flying for travel!
To further enhance the experience, the terrific music score by Harold Faltermeyer builds tension, alerting audiences to when the stakes are at their highest.
All in all, “Top Gun 2” is a more-than-worthy successor to the original. At one point, a superior officer tells Maverick: “The future is here, and it doesn’t include you.”
Given the quality of this movie, it is safe to say he’s wrong.
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is playing in cinemas nationwide.