IronWatcher’s review published on Letterboxd:
Watched in the cinema (48th visit in 2022)
Is it coming or not? Actually, there was already talk in 2010 of continuing the action blockbuster "Top Gun" from 1986. But somehow the project did not seem to be under a good star. Director Tony Scott, who shot the first part, died in 2012, which threw the plans into disarray. Other things didn't go as planned either. And then, when the fighter planes were finally ready to head for the runway, the Corona pandemic intervened once again. Now it's over, at least to the extent that no one is interested in it any more. On the other hand, there is now suddenly a war in the middle of Europe - not a good prerequisite for a film that at the time promoted the heroisation of fighter pilots. But they didn't let these conditions stop them and are now releasing "Top Gun: Maverick" in spite of everything. In fact, they are so convinced of themselves and their work that the action flick will be shown at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.
You shouldn't expect a cinematic masterpiece because of this adulation. There are too many flaws in the content for that. In fact, however, "Top Gun: Maverick" is better than I expected. It is even superior to the original in several respects. The extremely questionable glorification of war, in which everything was sacrificed for coolness, is at least reduced here. Instead, this time there is actually a real fight for something that goes beyond glory. The reason for the story is an actual mission that Maverick and his young troop have to face. This all remains a little vague, there is no concrete world political context. But at least there is a goal here, instead of merely setting the scene for the characters as in the first part.
Whereas for a long time the characters are still more important than the plot. The result, however, is mixed. On the one hand, it's somehow quite nice to see how a generational change is pushed forward and how the devil pilot Maverick becomes a kind of mentor. On top of that, he is still suffering from the loss of Goose, which was already the big turning point in "Top Gun". In this way, Tom Cruise is allowed to remind us that he actually once had acting ambitions before he later concentrated solely on his action skills. While there is at least a little character substance left in him, the characters are, as in the first part, pure throwaways. Rooster (Miles Teller) is characterised solely by the loss of his father. Glen Powell plays the obligatory arrogant antagonist. The rest of the troupe is simply there to give the appearance of a team. Beyond that, the script has no use for the characters.
Anyway, you can't really hope for much in terms of content. Even if the more goal-oriented story is a clear improvement, it is not exactly a real argument to venture into the cinema. A large part of the story follows conventions so closely that you always know what is going to happen, including an ultimately superfluous romance. Surprises? Not a chance. Especially since the film also needs a few references to the first part, nothing works today without nostalgia. The film talks about courage, but it is anything but courageous. All transgressions follow strict rules. And when "Top Gun: Maverick" does break away from the trampled tracks and starts an exploratory flight, it quickly becomes silly. Especially towards the end, the question must be allowed whether the film is really still serious or whether it is not meant to be a comedy. There is humour, surprisingly often.
Despite occasional irritation, the film is worth seeing. One reason is the action scenes, which really live up to the original and, thanks to technological advances, make absurdly breakneck moments possible. So the most important part by far is already right, director Joseph Kosinski has done his job. They also take place in a more visually varied environment this time. This brings with it a certain arbitrariness when somehow every setting is suddenly possible. But it is exciting to watch. And the well-performing ensemble, above all Cruise himself, for whom this was a matter of the heart, also contributes to the fact that you can have a lot of fun. As with the predecessor, you should, if possible, switch off your brain a little. If you can do this or don't have high expectations from the start, you can enjoy a bit of summer blockbuster feeling here and have the feeling that everything is like it used to be.
