Top Gun: Maverick (2022) – A Thrill Ride of Nostalgia and Legacy
Written by Carson J. Kelly | Originally Reviewed May 22, 2022
Some films transcend genres, going beyond the sum of their parts, and in doing so, tap directly into our cultural soul. Top Gun: Maverick is one such film, a modern classic that doesn't just pay tribute to its 1986 predecessor but builds upon it in ways that feel powerful, relevant, and deeply emotional. As a long-time fan of action cinema and legacy sequels, I can say with complete confidence that this was a special film, one that easily joins my personal list of all-time favorite movies.
It’s rare to find a film that accomplishes what Maverick does: honoring the past while propelling a beloved franchise into a bold new future. It’s even rarer to find one that captures the hearts of both new audiences and longtime fans without sacrificing a shred of authenticity. For me, Top Gun: Maverick was a perfect film, and in this review, I’ll take you through the reasons why.
The Legacy of Maverick: A Story Decades in the Making
When Top Gun premiered in 1986, it didn’t just define the era, it helped create it. Fighter jets, aviators, synth-heavy scores, and motorcycle rides at sunset all became synonymous with cinematic cool. It made Tom Cruise a superstar and turned the phrase "need for speed" into a pop culture touchstone. But decades later, the question wasn’t whether a sequel could recapture that magic. It was whether it should even try.
That’s what makes Top Gun: Maverick so astonishing it doesn’t try to recreate the past. It evolves it. It reflects on the passing of time, the burden of legacy, and the tension between old-school intuition and new-age technology. Cruise's Pete "Maverick" Mitchell isn’t just a pilot in this film — he’s a relic of a fading era, fighting to prove that some things — heart, instinct, loyalty — never go out of style.
Tom Cruise – The Last Movie Star Doing It Like No One Else
Let’s talk about Tom Cruise.
In an era of green screens and CGI substitutes, Cruise stands out not just as a leading man but as a cinematic craftsman. This is a man who literally flies jets for his movies, who trains for months to perform death-defying stunts, and who treats every theatrical release like an event. With Top Gun: Maverick, he doesn’t just reprise his most iconic role he reminds us why movie stars once lit up the sky like fireworks.
Maverick is older now, more burdened by loss, more haunted by guilt, especially over Goose’s death in the original film. Yet he’s still fast, still fearless, still fighting the tide of change. Cruise plays him with equal parts swagger and sadness. This isn’t a man who’s moved on it’s a man who can’t. And that inner conflict fuels the film’s emotional depth, grounding the adrenaline in something real and human.
A Perfect Ensemble Cast – From Rooster to Hangman
While Cruise anchors the film, the supporting cast elevates it.
Miles Teller’s portrayal of Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, the son of Goose, is the emotional spine of the movie. Haunted by the past, resentful of Maverick, and yet eerily similar to his late father, Rooster is a character caught between legacy and identity. Teller delivers a performance that’s both fiery and vulnerable, and the chemistry between him and Cruise is electric. It’s a complicated father-son dynamic disguised as a pilot-teacher relationship, and it works beautifully.
Then there’s Glen Powell as Hangman, who channels the classic 1980s antagonist energy without ever slipping into caricature. Monica Barbaro as Phoenix and Lewis Pullman as Bob are also standouts, proving that diversity and depth are not mutually exclusive. This isn’t just a squad, it’s a generation. And the film makes space for each of them to shine.
The Aerial Combat Sequences – Cinema at 10,000 Feet
One word: breathtaking.
Top Gun: Maverick features some of the most jaw-dropping aerial sequences ever put to screen. Forget CGI, this is real flying, real G-force, real danger. The cockpit-mounted IMAX cameras put you right in the seat, as jets barrel-roll through canyons, dodge missile locks, and push the limits of physics. You feel every drop, every turn, every moment of panic. It’s not just thrilling, it’s immersive.
These aren’t set pieces. They’re poetry in motion.
Director Joseph Kosinski, known for Tron: Legacy and Oblivion, crafts every flight sequence with the precision of a military drill and the emotion of a ballet. The sound design alone is Oscar-worthy engines roar, alarms scream, but somehow it’s all perfectly balanced with Lorne Balfe and Harold Faltermeyer’s stirring score.
The Emotional Weight – Grief, Guilt, and Redemption
At its core, Top Gun: Maverick is about facing ghosts — both literal and metaphorical.
Maverick carries the guilt of Goose’s death like a permanent scar. Rooster resents Maverick for it. Their reconciliation isn’t easy, and the film doesn’t rush it. Instead, it lets the tension simmer, building toward a moment of clarity and trust that hits with the weight of a jet landing on a carrier deck.
We also get a touching, tear-jerking reunion with Val Kilmer’s Iceman a scene that not only pays homage to the original rivalry but honors Kilmer’s real-life health battles. It’s one of the most poignant moments in the film and a testament to Cruise’s willingness to put emotion above ego.
This movie doesn’t just fly it soars because it’s rooted in human experience: fear of irrelevance, fear of loss, hope for reconciliation, and the desire to leave something behind.
A Visual and Auditory Feast
Every frame of this movie is crafted with love. The sunsets are richer. The sound of jets splitting the sky is sharper. The pacing is tighter. And yes, the volleyball beach scene gets an upgrade with a new football montage that’s all about teamwork and bonding.
From the color grading to the cinematography by Claudio Miranda (Life of Pi), the visual storytelling is top-tier. The film also embraces nostalgia in subtle ways, callbacks to iconic moments, echoes of dialogue, a haunting piano rendition of “Great Balls of Fire.” It’s never cheap or forced. It’s earned.
Jennifer Connelly – A Romance That Grounds Maverick
Another refreshing aspect of Top Gun: Maverick is its mature, grounded romance.
Jennifer Connelly plays Penny Benjamin, a character referenced in the first film but never shown, and she brings warmth, wit, and gravity to the story. Her chemistry with Cruise is believable and restrained. There’s no unnecessary melodrama, just two adults with history, trying to see if there’s still something worth building.
It’s a love story that doesn’t demand center stage, but it makes the whole narrative feel fuller.
A Hopeful Future – Could There Be a Top Gun 3?
The film ends on a hopeful note, not with a promise of a sequel, but with the suggestion that the legacy of Top Gun will live on. Rooster is ready to lead. Maverick has finally found peace. And yet if there were to be a Top Gun 3, I’d be the first in line on day one.
With Glen Powell’s Hangman proving to be a breakout character and with Teller’s Rooster coming into his own, there’s plenty of potential for a new generation to rise. If handled with the same respect, intensity, and emotional grounding as this film, a third installment could cement this as one of the great cinematic trilogies of our time.
Final Thoughts – The Need for Speed Lives On
Top Gun: Maverick is more than a sequel. It’s a statement.
A statement that legacy sequels can work. That practical effects still matter. That, character-driven blockbusters still have a place in modern cinema. And that Tom Cruise is, quite literally, in a league of his own.
This was a special film a once-in-a-generation moviegoing experience. It’s the kind of film you want to revisit, not just for the action, but for the way it makes you feel. Inspired. Moved. Invincible. It’s earned its place on my all-time favorites list, and I know I’m not alone in that sentiment.
As the final notes of “Danger Zone” fade and the credits roll, you can’t help but whisper: Top Gun lives on. And so does Maverick.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 10/10 | All-Time Favorite
Written by Carson J. Kelly
Date of Original Review: May 22, 2022
