Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick
Set 30 years after its predecessor, it follows Maverick's return to the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program (also known as U.S. Navy-Fighter Weapons School - "TOPGUN"), where he must confront his past as he trains a group of younger pilots, among them the son of Maverick's deceased best friend Lieutenant Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, USN.
jgennusa reviewedAugust 30, 2025
This is an outstanding sequel.
This movie is almost an exact replica of the first in spirit. It has the same qualities that made the first movie great, but it vastly improves with the writing. The first movie was full of cheesy lines and scenes, though it was still great.
Maverick, in the first movie, was outstanding at his job, but he was arrogant and broke the rules. He was also quick to react to every situation, even if it wasn't the right reaction. He didn't think things through.
This sequel probably misses a lot of technical things, like that this fighter pilot is still flying when he's about 60 years old and performing feats that his body probably couldn't handle. But that goes to show how great this character is at the things he does.
In this sequel, the writers are amazing at how they developed the character of Maverick. With all his flaws, he grew up and got wise. He's still the wise ass we knew from the first movie, but he's not so impulsive now. It makes perfect sense for someone who has lived his life and made it this long.