Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, and Jennifer Connelly, Top Gun: Maverick is the long-awaited – and significantly better-  sequel to the original blockbuster 80s film.

Captain Pete Mitchell remains true to his callsign some 30 years after the events of the first film, breaking US Navy regulations and defying his superiors – until he is requested by his old rival, now Commander Kazansky, to become none other than the instructor for the new Top Gun graduates, tasked with what seems to be mission impossible. There, Maverick is forced to grapple with his history, all the while using his unconventional – but ridiculously entertaining – methods to train the young pilots for the unthinkable assignment.

Top Gun: Maverick fixes every issue with the first film with grace while managing to preserve and strengthen its strongest points. The underlying American jingoism is still strong in Maverick, but nowhere as ridiculous as it was in the original. Crucially, Maverick knows when to take itself seriously, and when not to – something that many recent blockbusters have floundered with. Most importantly, Cruise remains an impeccable star, driving all the film’s action and drama with the inhuman levels of charisma expected of him. Needing praise too are the incredible airborne stunts, nearly all of which are impressively practical and masterfully edited – a laudable decision and a sight for sore eyes during an age when high-budget films increasingly turn to hackneyed CGI effects.  Maverick and Rooster’s turbulent relationship shines, as well as the chemistry between the new Top Gun recruits – relegating Maverick’s romantic endeavors to the backburner. Top Gun: Maverick is an incredible experience from beginning to end.