In Director Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun Maverick, Tom Cruise as Capt Pete “Maverick” Mitchell reunites with former rival, now lifelong friend Admiral Tom “Ice Man” Kazansky. Ice called upon a favor from Maverick to train young Top Gun Pilots for the nearly impossible mission. One of the Top Gun pilots is Lt Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, son of his late best friend Goose, played by Anthony Edwards in Top Gun (1986). Rooster blames Maverick for his father’s death. Maverick has never forgiven himself, either. Maverick’s airplane hanger in the Mohave Desert is a homage to Goose.
Arriving at the Kazansky home, wife Sarah informs Maverick that Ice’s cancer has come back. Actor Val Kilmer, who plays Ice Man, is in remission from throat cancer. Because Ice can’t speak due to physical pain, he types his words on the computer screen.
Ice knows of Maverick and Rooster’s volatile history. Over 30 years, Ice evolved as the wise compassionate leader of men. Maverick still disobeys authority, like flying a prototype stealth jet at Mach 10.3, knowing that the program threshold is 10. Maverick doesn’t know how to teach his Top Gun pilots nor make amends with Rooster.
Ice gently looks at Maverick and types, “You have to let go!” Maverick cries. So, did I. Val and Tom are powerfully vulnerable. Yeah, Top Gun Maverick has the most breathtaking F-18 flying sequences on Planet Earth and badass Maverick madly humbles these young arrogant Top Gun Pilots. Still, what eloquently lands in Maverick: You have to let go. Forgive the sins and omissions of the past. Move on.
The screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie transcends narrative retread. Although, shredded shirtless Top Gun Pilots play beach football, instead of volleyball. Older Tom Cruise is powerful and poignant as Maverick evolves into venerable Sensei, instead of Top Gun GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). As Ice reminds us, it’s not all about him. It’s for the kids, his pilots. His job is to keep them alive, bringing them back home. Along the journey, he heals and forgives himself, as well.
Sublime and beautiful Jennifer Connelly plays Maverick’s ex-lover Penny. Penny owns the local town bar, the watering hole for the Top Gun pilots. She’s the single Mom with her daughter Amelia, played by smart, spirited Lyliana Wray. Tom and Jennifer share authentic on-screen charm. Props to Joseph Kosinski and his screenwriters for inventing Penny as Maverick’s spiritual muse, not merely the formulaic love interest.
In the narrative arc, Penny quietly tells Maverick, “Those are your pilots. Anything happens to them. You’ll never forgive yourself.” Miles Teller’s Rooster is one of his pilots. Rooster says in Maverick’s face, “My dad believed in you. I’m not going to make the same mistake.” Rooster never forgave Maverick for his father’s death. Maverick delayed his entry into the Navy Academy to keep a promise to Rooster’s late mom. Miles is powerful in his anger, which hides his profound sadness. His electric screen partnership with Tom transform Maverick into something special.
Under Ice’s watch, Maverick gets his assignment under Admiral Beau Simpson, played by bold, charismatic Jon Hamm, and Admiral Solomon Bates, played by calm, resolute Charles Parrell. Like Maverick, they’re Top Gun graduates. Unlike them, Maverick still remains a Navy Captain. Bates acknowledges Maverick’s resume but dismisses him as the insubordinate wildcard under Ice’s protection.
Maverick has three weeks to train his Top Gun Pilots to fly a mission to destroy a nuclear weapons-grade uranium facility in remote frozen Russia. This is a no-win scenario mission. Maverick solemnly says, “Someone’s not coming back…”
As the intense training is unconcealed, Admiral Simpson reluctantly says that he must either make Maverick Mission Team Leader or court-martial his ass. Before he attempts to speak, Admiral Bates says, “That was a rhetorical question, Maverick.” Maverick replies, “Yes, sir.” Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun Maverick will make you laugh, cheer, and cry.
Aboard the aircraft carrier in the middle of the Pacific, Maverick patiently inspects his F-18 before the mission. Admiral Bates says, “You’re right where you should be. Make us proud.” Amen. Maverick has made more than his share of mistakes. Then again, like us he’s human. Maverick is most alive, his authentic self when he’s flying his F-18 at Mach 9, doing what he loves. When he doesn’t think about what he has to do. When he lets go. When he frees himself.
In the bigger picture, it’s not all about Maverick. It’s about others becoming the best that they can be so that they can come back home. So, that they can live. Tom Cruise possesses gravitas and surrender as Maverick lets go, freeing himself from the past. Something we can all take away from Top Gun Maverick. Just saying.
Watch the official trailer:
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Photo credit: Shutterstock, modified
