Skydance Media and Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ Top Gun: Maverick (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; UA) is the second in the Top Gun series. The first film, Top Gun, was released in 1986. The second part is the story of an almost impossible mission accomplished by test pilot Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and his group of trainees who are Top Gun graduate pilots. Among the trainees is Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw (Miles Teller), son of Maverick’s late best friend, Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw, and Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin (Glen Powell). At first, Maverick’s students are sceptical but they have a change of heart when they see his daredevilry. How the mission is finally accomplished is the crux of the drama.
Based on the characters created by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., the story is written by Peter Craig and Justin Marks. The story is very interesting and keeps the audience involved and engrossed. The screenplay, written by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, moves at a fast pace and does not give the viewers a chance to think. The drama takes some time to come into its own but once that happens, the involvement of the audience is absolute. The mid-air thrills and the on-ground interactions between the various characters make the drama rather enjoyable. Having said that, it must be added that the drama moves on a single track, which is a minus point.
Tom Cruise is tops in the title role. He is endearing and so wonderful in his acting and stunts that the viewers fall in love with him. Miles Teller is pretty endearing in the role of Lieutenant Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw. Jennifer Connelly does a fine job as Penny Benjamin. Glen Powell is fantastic as Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin. Jon Hamm (as Vice Admiral Beau ‘Cyclone’ Simpson) and Charles Parnell (as Rear Admiral Solomon ‘Warlock’ Bates) lend terrific support. Bashir Salahuddin is first-rate as Bernie ‘Hondo’ Coleman. Val Kilmer makes his presence beautifully felt in a brief role as Admiral Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky. Ed Harris (as Rear Admiral Chester ‘Hammer’ Cain) is effective. Monica Barbaro (as Lieutenant Natasha ‘Phoenix’ Trace) makes her mark. Lewis Pullman (as Lieutenant Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd), Jay Ellis (as Lieutenant Reuben ‘Payback’ Fitch), Danny Ramirez (as Lieutenant Mickey ‘Fanboy’ Garcia), Jack Schumacher (as Lieutenant Neil ‘Omaha’ Vikander), Manny Jacinto (as Lieutenant Billy ‘Fritz’ Avalone), Kara Wang (as Lieutenant Callie ‘Halo’ Bassett), Greg Tarzan Davis (as Lieutenant Javy ‘Coyote’ Machado), Jake Picking (as Lieutenant Brigham ‘Harvard’ Lennox), Raymond Lee (as Lieutenant Logan ‘Yale’ Lee), Lyliana Wray (as Penny’s daughter, Amelia) and the others provide fantastic support.
Joseph Kosinski’s direction is wonderful. But he has made a film which is uni-dimensional, something the Hindi film-going audience does not often approve of. Lorne Balfe’s background music is impactful. Claudio Miranda deserves distinction marks for his cinematography. Jeremy Hindle’s production designing is of a high order. Special effects and computer graphics are phenomenal. Eddie Hamilton’s editing is sharp. Dubbing is very good.
On the whole, Top Gun: Maverick is an entertaining film but its singular track is a dampener. Its box-office will not match its merits because of the single-track story and also because the awareness about the film among the Hindi film-going audience is low.
Released on 26-5-’22 at Gemini (daily 5 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Viacom18 Motion Pictures. Publicity: so-so. Opening: below the mark (partly because of an odd day (Thursday) release). Collections in the morning shows today (27-5-’22) are also dull. …….Also released all over. Opening was not upto the mark.