How can a sequel deliver a better film than its predecessor (especially when it comes decades after the original)?
The sequel must take what worked about the original and continue to deliver on it. But it cannot take a shortcut and just rehash the original (looking at you The Hangover Part II and countless other sequels that just rip off the first film). You have to offer up something new and exciting to make it stand out (which goes hand in hand with the first point). There also must be an effective purpose and reasoning for a sequel to exist inside the film (not just a need to make a bunch of money off the first film’s name). Finally, there should be some added stakes to make it feel meaningful (even though most take this as it needs to be bigger and have more scale which is not necessarily the case).
But what is the most popular type of sequel today?
The legacy sequel. Combining new characters and splashing the originals (to keep the built-in fan base happy) is the key to this new approach. The other main ingredient must be nostalgia. What can be thrown into the film that excites the built-in audience and makes them feel what they love about the first film? There are plenty of things from specific songs to references, to beloved characters, and other elements recycled from the first film. Scream recently had a field day satirizing this new trend (while also delivering quite an effective legacy sequel itself). There are plenty of franchises rebooting in this way, but the Star Wars sequel trilogy leaned heavily into this approach with The Force Awakens even feeling like a soft remake of the original Star Wars.
But what new film just might have raised the bar for all legacy sequels before and after?
Top Gun: Maverick. Who would have thought that? I will be the first to admit that I am not the hugest fan of Top Gun. It is cheesy and silly for an 80’s movie that was certainly made as a propaganda measure for the Cold War (along with Rocky IV). Tom Cruise was always great but the only genuine characters in the film were Goose (who SPOILER ALERT…dies) and his wife. When I wrote a The Wasteland Vintage Roadshow article about Top Gun, I discussed how much more the soundtrack meant to me instead of the actual film. But something about this trailer for Top Gun: Maverick really caught my eye. The flying scenes looked incredible and there seemed to be plenty of genuine drama injected into the narrative. Then the reviews came out.
How were they?
Incredible! I was stoked. This theatre-going experience was also a significant one for me. I have gone to the movies with a whole crew of people on countless occasions. Rounding up five to ten people to check out the latest Star Wars or Marvel film was something so common. Then the pandemic hit. It has been a long and slow road back to normalcy for all of us and especially for me when it comes to movies. For my Bachelor Party ahead of my recent wedding, eight of my best friends rolled up to AMC Voorhees, took up almost a whole row of seats in the middle of the auditorium, and took in the magic of this film. I was on the edge of my seat (literally) as it felt like I was flying in these fighter jets. There is nothing as magical as taking in a big blockbuster film on the biggest possible screen. When the opening credits began to roll, Harold Faltermeyer’s “Top Gun Anthem” started to play…to start to get goosebumps. Then IT hit. “Danger Zone” …Kenny Loggins…THIS was Top Gun. A wave of memories flowed over me of listening to this album on CD repeatedly. This is what makes movies great.
But what about the actual film? Was it great?
The simplest answer is…ABSOLUTELY. This film did everything. The action was lightyears beyond the original film. Maverick was considerably more interesting and had a much better arc to navigate. The crew of the pilot was wonderfully fun and enjoyable to watch on screen. There were plenty of organic conflicts peppered throughout the film giving it layers. There was poignant emotion thanks to top-notch performances, great writing, and dynamic relationships between characters. There was plenty of nostalgia that was organically added to the film without it being washed out by the new characters and the core of the film. The music works perfectly well mixed with the score. The cast is a pitch-perfect ensemble. The romance feels more meaningful and mature. This sequel literally does everything better than the first film.
Who is the biggest game-changer?
Tom Cruise. Top Gun will always be synonymous with this film-turned franchise. Cruise IS Maverick. You can see his acting career mature and add depth since his early years in the 80s and Cruise has aged like a fine wine…right into where Maverick needs to be in this film. Maverick is in the twilight of his Navy career and has been on the wrong end of every admiral he has come across (except for Iceman who still has his back). After saving his manned-craft program in a pitch-perfect opening sequence (with a great rugged cameo from Ed Harris), Maverick is pulled back in to instruct “Top Gun” by John Hamm’s Cyclone (Maverick constant roadblock throughout the film). Maverick must prepare a crew of elite graduates for a life-or-death bombing mission against a never-mentioned nation (they obviously did not want to get banned anywhere so they could maximize their box office intake). Maverick must put his nature of “do-not-think” behind him so he can teach the next great pilots to complete this near-impossible mission. He attempts to rekindle a romance with a former flame in Penny (Jennifer Connolly’s bar owner) but this time makes it more mature and meaningful. Maverick must also face his lowering limitations. Like Cruise, he is in the PEAK physical shape for his age, but this action will come back to bite him. Cruise is perfect for this role and nails it.
But how does this veteran rise to the occasion?
It is important to first point out that Cruise is in tip-top shape. From an early treadmill scene, you can see how incredible Cruise’s conditioning is. You cannot take away Cruise’s physicality as an actor. He knows how to deliver plenty of emotion with just a glance, a shrugging of the shoulders, or a targeted grin. No other actor is more believable running in a film, riding a motorcycle, or even flying a fighter jet. Cruise is always all in. But his acting ability doesn’t stop there. There are quite a few scenes in this film where he shows his range. His impeccable banter and charm shared with Connolly is impressive. His back talk and barbs lodged at Cyclone are hilarious. So is his playing and taunting of his students. Cruise can bring emotion as well. There is one scene where Cruise shows so much doubt and fear from one comment made by Penny’s daughter. Maverick’s exchanges with Rooster (Goose’s son played by Miles Teller) have so many layers and Cruise can deliver them all. When Cruise and Val Kilmer share a screen together, you can feel all the off-screen emotions channel perfectly to the screen.
But what about the franchise’s new pilot (director) who takes the reins?
Joseph Kosinski has shown on numerous occasions that he has an impeccable eye and refined handle of action. Tron Legacy might have failed in certain ways but not from the action standpoint. That film was quite visionary. Oblivion may be derivative from a writing standard point, but Kosinski directed the hell out of that film with its intense action and perfect world-building and design. Top Gun: Maverick benefits greatly from having him helm this picture. There is a great pace that keeps the energy flowing and the adventure flying. The tone is a perfect balance of nostalgia, strong emotional core, and an intense action flick. The action is perfect. This is up there with Mission: Impossible, John Wick, and Mad Max: Fury Road as the best of the best action films of the 21st century. No doubt at all. The camerawork is inspired, the action is thrilling, and you feel like you are in the cockpit seeing it all go down in-camera.
What does Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie bring to the table on the writing side of things?
This screenplay is well structured and flows so well. The story stays at each point if it needs to and delivers what it needs to narratively and emotionally. The film balances each element of the story perfectly from the training to the romance, to the tension between Maverick and Rooster. There are plenty of elements in the film that are rousing and full of joy. Rooster playing music at the bar (which also has a melancholy element to it as well), the test run that Maverick does, the football on the beach, and the whole third act that delivers some of the best action on film. The film is not perfect though. There are moments where it falls into some annoying cliches like false deaths, “fourth acts”, and a predictable narrative. But what is true is that you can get past these elements easily because the film delivers on every level.
Why do you need to go out and see Top Gun: Maverick?
This is legitimately one of the best films of the year. That might sound so surprising, but it is true. The action is masterful. The direction is too. The story is layered and delivers plenty of emotion from start to finish. The nostalgia is real, but the depth is even better. This is one of the best sequels ever made and it is time to give into the hype and experience it yourself.
