The past decade has been rife with legacy sequels to box office hits of yore. The ’80s is a prime subject for nostalgia now that the movie-going audience from that time is old enough to reminisce about the past, and it’s right up Hollywood’s penchant for franchise cinema and revisiting established films. Although a majority of these sequels are duds, some of them are actually good, but that’s few and far between. But if there’s one person who can get it right, it’s got to be a genuine movie star like Tom Cruise.

Indeed, he’s back doing what he does best – put his seemingly ageless body in numerous dangerous situations while cracking his superstar smile every now and then. His insistence on doing practical stunts himself, with minimal CGI, has become a trademark of his and deserves respect in itself. At this point, anticipating what crazy action sequence he does next to top the previous one is part of the experience. And he probably realizes that’s what audiences expect of him.

It’s been 36 years since Cruise played Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the original Top Gun directed by Tony Scott, which also served as a US Navy recruitment advert celebrating American jingoism. Now, after suffering from pandemic-induced delays, Top Gun: Maverick is finally here, and Cruise fits right back into the same role like no time has passed. Not much has changed since we’ve last seen him. After an identical opening title card explaining what Top Gun is, and a montage of fighter planes taking off against Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone,” we find that Maverick is now a test pilot in a secret American base in the desert. But he’s still the same old Pete Mitchell who wears his aviator shades and bomber jacket, drives his big bikes, and has that rebellious nature that’s prevented him from being promoted past the rank of captain, just so he could still fly planes.

“The end is inevitable, Maverick. Your kind is headed for extinction,” Rear Admiral Cain (played by an underutilized Ed Harris) growls before reluctantly admitting that Maverick’s been called back to Top Gun, not to fly, but to train a current generation of pilots for a seemingly impossible mission. A vice admiral named Cyclone (Jon Hamm), who is in command of the program, is skeptical about his skills, and is only here because Iceman (Val Kilmer), now an admiral, keeps pulling strings for him. Nevertheless, Maverick gets the job. Under his wing are newcomers Hangman (Glen Powell), Phoenix (Monica Barbaro), Bob (Lewis Pullman), Payback (Jay Ellis), and Rooster (Miles Teller), the son of his late RIO and best friend Goose whose death still weighs heavily on him after all these years.

And there lies the heart of the film. Top Gun: Maverick explores the relationships of these characters, much more so than the previous film, but especially Maverick and Rooster’s. Sure, there is still some of the ’80s nationalism left that touts America as the greatest country on Earth (the enemies are left intentionally vague same as the original), but this time, the movie takes the concepts of friendship and loyalty more seriously, and relies on the harmony of its cast. There’s also a subplot of rekindling a past romance with Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly), a character only mentioned in passing in the first movie. Connelly’s chemistry with Cruise is palpable, and she certainly holds her own against him.

As good as that sounds, Top Gun: Maverick is at its best when the fighter jets are flying, showing off crazy aerial maneuvers while going supersonic speeds that just take your breath away. It’s been reported that all flying scenes are done with the actual US Navy F/A-18s with the cast in the backseat for the ride. So the cockpit shots, now with a wider field of view for a more immersive experience, are as real as can be. The dogfights in the original Top Gun are impressive for its time, but it pales in comparison to what director Joseph Kosinski and his team have done here. It makes a strong case for actually seeing this movie in the theaters for the full experience as the authentic practical stunts that went into every action sequence are a sight to behold.

For all its callbacks to the past, such as the topless sports scene and a heartwarming return by Iceman himself, the nostalgia in Maverick is kept to a minimum. This film is far superior to its predecessor in every way, and it feels like an actual movie instead of propaganda. In a way, Top Gun: Maverick resembles Tom Cruise’s real-life status. Can the old dog still outclass his younger competitors? The answer is: hell yes!

Rating: ★★★★★