Top Gun: Maverick | Review
For many of us, Top Gun is both the perfect 80s action film and the first film we were introduced to Tom Cruise. Top Gun is why many Americans joined the Navy, and it has spawned many of the most quotable lines in pop culture. It has become a cultural phenomenon, and for decades many have wanted a sequel.
Sadly for years both the director/producers stated they wouldn’t make a sequel, there wasn’t a story to tell and Tom Cruise himself had said he refused to play Maverick again. Luck for us…..neither turned out to be not true.
Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell
Penny Benjamin
Penny Benjamin may seem like just a replacement for Charlie, but the true Top Gun fan she’s a call back to the original. Penny was actually one of the reasons Maverick was transferred. This was mentioned in the scene after he “buzzed” the tower, and is chewed out by Stinger. In this hilarious rant, he mentioned that he once was reprimanded for a high-speed pass over an admiral’s daughter. The admiral’s daughter’s name is actually named dropped…..Penny Benjamin. In this sequel, we are introduced to her as a bar owner, but we quickly learn there’s a deep history that with an on again off again romance that never seems to go away.
Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw
The son of Goose, Rooster, enters Top Gun with the same rank his father once held but has level-headedness about himself that a young Maverick did have when he first entered the program. In a unique turn of events, he has the personality of Iceman, and is very cautious when it comes to taking chances like his father and Maverick did in the past.
Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin
Hangman is juxtaposed to Rooster, as he’s more like Maverick than you may think. Though he is grossly self-centered and willing to abandon his wingman to win glory. Yet, unlike Maverick
Pros:
- The opening scene.
- The correct patches on Maverick’s jacket are prominently displayed.
- Iceman’s brief cameo.
- Goose’s son, Rooster coming into his own.
Cons:
- The scene where they steal the plane could have been longer.
Finale Verdict: This is the perfect 80s action film with a perfect closing character arc. See it now and see it in IMAX.