When I saw Top Gun for the first time about a decade ago, I didn't get much out of it. I couldn't remember much later besides the control tower buzzing and the death of a wingman, and it seemed to me there wasn't all that much action for a designated action flick. But in light of the sequel's much better reception, I had to check it out. Maybe it would be like the later Mission: Impossible entries.
For decades, "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) has been content to turn down promotions above his U.S. Navy captaincy and serve as a skilled if rather unruly test pilot. But with drones being the apparent wave of the future, his superiors offer him only one choice for further flights in the service: teaching at the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, a.k.a. TOPGUN. They wouldn't give him even that if not for his buddy-turned-admiral "Iceman" Kazansky (Val Kilmer). Mav has very little time to train a small group of aviators and pick the best for bombing a canyon base. And unlike supervising admiral "Hammer" Cain (Ed Harris), he wants to ensure they not only complete the objective but all make it home safe. He never was one to accept theoretical limits.
We never find out whom they're fighting or where. Opponents' uniforms completely obscure their bodies, and no words from them are intercepted. But since they have reputedly superior technology, you can bet they don't represent a little-noted nation (unless...). They make me think of Cobra from G.I. Joe. I suppose the point is to have us assume that the bombing is justified, without evoking any real enemy nation that would then boycott the picture.
In a foreword, Cruise tells the audience that the makers were going for an immersive experience. I'd say they succeeded, at least with the cockpit scenes. We're given to understand that flying fast is not as easy as it sounds; it takes a toll on you. And you really have to be careful about altitude ranges. In short, I've never been more excited to watch military jets.
At the risk of revealing too much, Mav's caution training pays off. The body count is about as low as the genre permits; even some enemy pilots bail out in time. The PG-13 rating is about as much for his steamy reunion with Penny (Jennifer Connelly) as for violence.
Yes, there are still plenty of scenes that have nothing directly to do with the attack or preparation thereof. We get to know the prospective strike team pretty well. Plotwise, the most significant is "Rooster" Bradshaw (Teller), son of Mav's departed wingman. He clashes with Mav, who held him back because of a sense of unreadiness, and with "Hangman" Seresin (Glen Powell), who's not big on teamwork.
What we get is a mix of drama, action, romance, bromance, and a smattering of comedy. I'm not fully convinced that my theater laughed hardest at a part that was supposed to be funny. But hey, a TG movie can't help being over the top (NPI).
I wouldn't rely on TG:M for an accurate depiction of how things work. I would rely on it providing an emotionally charged time, in a good way. Even if you don't know or aren't nostalgic for the preexisting elements, nothing short of a deep hostility to Armed Forces maneuvers should prevent you from liking this at least a little.
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