Top Gun
Maverick
Curse is
getting long in the tooth, as we all are, but he is still Tom Terrific.
He is one of the most bankable movie stars in Hollywood. This film has
surpassed the weekend opening record with a box office of $156m.
This is not a great movie, but
it is fun and watchable. The film is basically a two man story between Tom
Curse and Miles Teller. Teller is the son of Curse’s wingman, Goose, who died
in the 1986 film. There is history between them. Jennifer Connelly is sprinkled
in as the love interest. Their romance is as steamy as lukewarm coffee.
Other actors include Jon Ham as Vice Admiral Beau. He reprises his tight
lipped Ad Men persona. Ed Harris has a brief appearance as a stern tight ass admiral;
a real stretch for him. There are the other Top Gun pilots talking trash and jockeying
for the top spot. In deference to #metoo there is a female hot shot.
The only other actor from the
original film is Val Kilmer. In real life Kilmer is suffering from throat
cancer. He talks in a coarse whisper (his voice was created using AI). It is a
touching moment when they embrace. Some elements of the 1986 film were recreated.
Instead of a bare chested volleyball game, there was a bare chested touch
football game (the lady wore a bra). Tom looked great for a 59 year old man
child.
The movie is predictable. There
are some surprising twists and turns, but the outcome is never in doubt.
A hallmark of Curse's movies are the stunts. Curse has a reputation for
insisting on doing his own stunts. The jet scenes are a major feature of the
film. Spoiler alert Tom does not fly the jets himself. The actors are filmed in
the jet fighters experiencing crushing G forces; no FX was used. Being crushed
by G forces is not flattering and to Tom's credit he is willing to look
like a quivering smashed tomato. The Navy charged $11,000 per hour for the
jets.
It is not necessary but you may
benefit from seeing the 1986 Top Gun to get some perspective. In a way this is
a nostalgic movie linking 1986 with 2022. Tom is not waiting another 36 years for
his next sequel, Mission Impossible 8 comes out next year.
