Movie review—Top Gun: Maverick

Note: Steve (Unitog) is our resident Peep in training. Much like Top Gun, we put our trainees through a rigorous training regime before setting them loose. This is Steve's first review for RunPee. We'd be delighted if you left him feedback in the comments below. 

Top Gun 1986 was a classic movie for me. Therefore, Top Gun: Maverick had some expectations to overcome. I'm happy to say they did what good sequels do: respect and acknowledge what came before while telling a new story. I'll try not to make too many comparisons between the two movies, but we all know it's going to happen.

7:42●●● 95%

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High flying action intermixed with some funny moments, drama, and love interest. Those coming in with the expectation of a shoot-em-up will be disappointed. Until they are on the mission they have been training for. I enjoyed TG: Maverick for the ride that it was.

I'm not going to lie, there are similarities between the two movies. I know some naysayers might say it's just a remake of the first one. A little formulaic. My counter would be the first Top Gun was just training them for dog fighting. With enemy dogfights at the beginning and end of the movie. While TG: Maverick had the training montages sure. But they're training for a specific mission this time. I concede the point that this formula could be used for innumerable sequels. The basic components are the same: pilots, planes, training, and combat. The formula worked 36 years ago. Why not give it another go, for the younger generations.

Like the first TG, I assume this movie will inspire some people to try to become pilots.

Tell a friend to see it?
Yes

Would I rewatch it?
Yes

Would I want to own a copy?
Yes

Must-see in theaters?
Not a must-see in the theater. But I can tell they tried to maximize the IMAX experience. Might not transfer to the home experience.

Do you need to see the original to enjoy this one?
I don't think you do. You probably could enjoy it for what it is. But it helps with the motivation and understanding of some of the drama.

Grade: A

There are no extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Top Gun: Maverick.

Plot
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.