Top Gun: Maverick

Synopsis: After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Training a detachment of graduates for a special assignment, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who choose to fly it.

Movie Review:

“Top Gun: Maverick” is directed by Joseph Kosinski, and it is the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 classic “Top Gun”. This movie has a spectacular story, and great character moments old and new. There are lots of nostalgic moments and flashbacks from the previous film that work and serve the story in a great way that makes it emotional. Tom Cruise reprises his role of Pete Mitchell aka Maverick who after 30 years of service must return to Top Gun to be an instructor and teacher. As his character matures and ages, he is still haunted by the death of his former wing man Goose. Jennifer Connelly plays Penny Benjamin an old flame who used to date Maverick, and she and Cruise had a real connection on screen. Miles Teller plays Lt. Bradley Bradshaw also known as Rooster who is Goose’s son. He has a complicated relationship with Maverick which is the heart of the movie. Bradshaw is fearless, bold, and heroic, and he has some powerful scenes of frustration that effect all the other characters. I think the standout is Glenn Powell who pays Lt. Jake Hangman a hotshot pilot who is a rival of Rooster. Lewis Pullman, Monica Barbaro, and Danny Ramirez all play the new recruits and they all added something important to the movie. The entire movie is interesting and engaging. And the story does have a remarkable edge of your seat third act that is intense with lots of standing ovation moments, especially the Val Kilmer appearance. The performances by this talented cast were worth the wait. I think this is a perfect movie from beginning to end. I am giving “Top Gun: Maverick” a 5/5 stars.

Director: : Joseph Kosinski

Cast: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez with Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer

Runtime: 131 Minutes