Tom Cruise returns as Captain Pete Maverick Mitchell in the long-awaited sequel to Top Gun, a perfect blend of nostalgia and raw action.
As in the original 1986 film, Maverick makes it clear that he can still disobey orders and flout authority.
Top Gun: Maverick starts with the renowned captain settling into his sleek black experimental plane’s cockpit, intending to take the craft on a Mach 10 test flight.
The daredevil Navy pilot still has incredible high-flying skills, but his career has not progressed as expected. “I am where I belong,” he tells those who ask why he is there after all these years.
Maverick returns to become the most important character in Top Gun after being given one last chance: to train pilots for a top secret mission. The trainees’ group includes the son of the partner he lost in the first film, Rooster, played by Miles Teller.
But there are many more moments that allow Maverick to reconnect with his past, including reuniting with an old flame (Jennifer Connelly) and old friend, Iceman (Val Kilmer).
Top Gun: Maverick’s plot, which revolves around the already-known aggressive pilots, also opens up to involve a brave woman who can stand on her own (Monica Barbaro) and more people of color.
Despite arriving 36 years after the first film, the sequel builds a mostly-excellent story where Cruise managed to entertain viewers and leave some movie fans breathless.
Its visceral aerial sequences directed by “Oblivion” director Joseph Kosinski convey Top Gun’s trademark adrenaline rush and blend harmoniously with a script crafted by a fantastic trio of writers that includes Cruise’s frequent collaborator Christopher McQuarrie.
Top Gun: Maverick also manages to stay on the go and keep up with a speed-hungry pilot skillfully played by Cruise despite a 40-year gap from the original film, a skilled cast that still feels contemporary and theatrical skies for a breathtaking atmosphere.
While Paramount waited a long time to release the film directly into theaters, saying it belongs on the big screen, Top Gun: Maverick is set to open in Thailand on May 25 before opening in the US on May 27.
