In less than a month since its release date, Forbes reports that Top Gun: Maverick has already become Tom Cruise’s highest earner and is sure to cross the $1 billion mark soon. As fans headed to the cinema to watch the movie, one thing was obvious – they were in for a nostalgic ride.
The sequel delivered exactly that along with exceptional storylines, dialogues, and characters. In an astounding feat, it manages to create the perfect balance between the new and old, full of references and callbacks to its iconic predecessor.
Getting Reassigned To Top Gun
Maverick’s beginning pretty much parallels the original movie with Maverick defying a superior’s order in the first 10 minutes. This similarity continues further when he is reprimanded for his actions by the Admiral who gives him a speech very similar to one he got in Top Gun.
The biggest callback comes with the news that Maverick has been reassigned to Top Gun, the only difference being that this time there’s no Goose. Another major difference lies in the fact that this reassignment has him take on the role of a teacher rather than a student – another callback to the original considering he mentioned that he’d want to come back to Top Gun as an instructor.
A Museum Piece
Unfortunately, for fans of the first movie’s planes, the F-14 Tomcats are replaced by the 18F Super Hornets in the sequel. There’s a glimpse of this aircraft in the beginning when Maverick arrives at Top Gun as a showpiece.
However, not only does the plane make a comeback in the third act, but it’s also involved in one of the best aerial dogfighting sequences in any movie. It also evokes a lot of memories for viewers as they watch Rooster take the seat that Goose used to sit in. The return of the iconic plane and pilot duo also proved that some legends just aren’t meant to die – or retire.
The Opening Credits
Audiences were sucked right back into the world of Top Gun as soon as the movie started because of the collection of strategic – and beautiful – sequences in the opening credits which were accompanied by the original movie’s theme. As the first words show up on the screen it’s an obvious callback to the original’s opening credits. This is followed by the immediate visuals of aircraft taking off one after the other, getting the viewers revved up for the movie before it even begins.
The immediate introduction of Maverick after this scene shows him working on a plane before he puts on his signature bomber jacket and aviators and proceeds to get onto his motorbike. An iconic scene from the first movie is then recreated when he races against a plane on, as die-hard fans will recognize it, an upgraded version of the Kawasaki he had in the original.
A Blast From The Past
While Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood doesn’t return in the sequel, there’s an unexpected entry by Penny Benjamin. Though Penny was never seen in Top Gun, she was mentioned as the Admiral’s daughter whom Maverick had a romantic entanglement with.
Not only is Penny one of Maverick’s earliest relationships, but she’s also one of his longest. Whether the two have been friends or more, they have seen each other go through various stages of their life and know each other very well. Another interesting reference Penny’s character makes to the original movie is with her choice of vehicle- a Porsche, which was also Charlie’s car.
Maverick’s Iconic Look
While Maverick may have matured from the first movie, he’s still very much the same at his core. This similarity goes beyond his rogue ways and arrogant statements that are always accompanied by a cocky grin.
Maverick’s bomber jacket in this movie is not only exactly the same as it was in the original – other than a minor flag change – but it is, in fact, the very same one. He also still has the aviators and denim to go with it to complete his look – he’s obviously stuck to the same wardrobe choices over the course of three decades – along with his trusty motorbike.
Recreating The Iconic Beach Scene
One of the most unexpected moments in the original movie that became iconic was the beach volleyball scene that was wrought with sweat and shirtless chest bumps. For whatever reason, this moment has become one of the most memorable of the movie and was purposefully recreated in Maverick.
Instead of volleyball, Top Gun: Maverick has its naval aviators play a game of football in lieu of increasing camaraderie and strengthening the pilots’ bond with each other. While the movie is full of phenomenal performances, this scene obviously misses the chemistry that Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer brought to the original.
The Bradshaw Bloodline
One of the biggest and most obvious references to the first movie is Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, a.k.a. the son of Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, Maverick’s wingman and best friend. Miles Teller is a great choice for this role because, not only is he a phenomenal actor but, he looks like a replica of young Anthony Edwards.
While the movie starts with him having a tumultuous relationship with Maverick, by the end the two are on much better terms. In an emotional throwback the movie, which started with a picture of Iceman and Maverick at the end of Top Gun, ends with a recreation of that picture with Maverick and Rooster. The movie also focuses largely on Maverick finally coming to terms with Goose’s death, something that would’ve been impossible without Rooster’s presence.
The Most Important Rule Of Flight Club
One of the most memorable interactions between Charlie and Maverick in Top Gun was when he tells her that if a pilot stops to think while he’s in the air, he’s dead. This lesson is carried forward in this movie with Maverick being extremely adamant about it.
This rule of flying is supported by the same high-intensity aerial sequences that made the first movie iconic. Further, this advice becomes a very unexpected punch line when it turns a high-stress argument between Maverick and Rooster into a hilarious one, resulting in one of the funniest quotes of the movie.
Singing A Classic
Rooster’s introduction is a big callback to the original film and, even more importantly, to Goose. Not only is his look in and of itself very similar to his father’s but his entrance into the bar is followed by a performance very reminiscent of the one seen in Top Gun.
The second Rooster unplugs the Jukebox and sits down at the piano, everyone who’d seen the first movie knew what was coming. The biggest moment in this scene came from Maverick who is thrown back into the past upon hearing Rooster sing “Great Balls Of Fire.” Watching Maverick remember the loss of his friend, a pain that remains very fresh despite it having happened decades ago, even the audience can’t help but feel the emotion.
Rivals Become Friends
Top Gun’s heart lay in the relationship between Maverick and Iceman, which had a great arc. Not only did the two go from enemies to friends, but in Maverick they seem to have become each other’s closest friends.
This pattern repeats itself once again with Rooster and Hangman and even, to a certain extent, with Rooster and Maverick – they also recreated the final picture from Top Gun. It seems that this series is exceptionally good at delivering interesting bromances that are worth remembering. While viewers didn’t get to see the trajectory of Rooster and Hangman’s friendship, hopefully there’s a potential spin-off or sequel in the makes.
