No spoilers.

The summer movie of 2022.

Of course I’d go see this movie opening weekend. Of course. Did you expect anything less of me?

And though my usual self was skeptical of this movie (I don’t care much for reviews), I will say one thing: this movie took my breath away.

Read on for the motel’s review of the sequel to one of her favorite movies of all time – don’t worry, there aren’t any spoilers!

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Smart move on Cruise’s part to delay the movie for a real theatrical release. It’s a risk for sure, but I believe it paid off in the end. Waiting for the pandemic to subside allowed the movie to have the proper press release it deserved, hyping the movie up to a maximum. “I make movies for the big screen,” Cruise had said, and he is a man true to his word.

The first 10 minutes of this movie is spectacular. The beginning sequence pays just enough homage to the original, careful not to oversaturate the audience with redundancy.

There are good parallels in this movie, an element of film that I greatly appreciate when done correctly (which it did, with flying colors actually).

I was a bit skeptical about the first half of the movie, but the second half is where this movie shines. The suspense really builds, the flying sequences are done with such amazing gusto, and the character’s stories come full circle.

Rooster, Hangman, and Phoenix

Miles Teller shines as Rooster, a character I didn’t expect to like at all. I’m so glad they chose an actor who emulated Anthony Edwards’s Goose so well. The mannerisms, the way they speak, even the way they stand. Teller really did his homework! I also loved how Teller’s Rooster has a near identical height difference between Goose and Maverick. It is those kinds of details that made this story believable (unlike Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren. No way could that guy could pass as Harrison Ford’s son). Their story was incredibly well written, bringing good closure to the character’s stories. I loved it.

Hangman was a wonderful addition to the crew. Kind of an antagonist at first of sorts, he provided good, light conflict with the characters, something I truly appreciated.

Phoenix was also a character I didn’t expect to like. The main female of the crew, her character was written in so seamlessly. No blatant arc about her being a girl, no rude comments from the guys, just good fun and good flying. She’s talented, smart, and everyone knows it. They don’t treat her any differently because of it. She’s one of them because she’s a good pilot. It has nothing to do with being a female and she didn’t need to flaunt it. Perhaps that is true feminism at its finest. I wish more movies would take note.

Take My Breath Away?

The romance arc with Jennifer Connelly is, uh, not my most favorite part of the movie. I will always love the angsty arc between Maverick and Charlie, but perhaps they did the best they could. Maverick isn’t a kid anymore, this relationship was obviously going to be a bit lackluster in comparison. In this review by Jeremy Jahns he mentions how the movie could’ve done without it and still perfectly survive. I would say the same. The chemistry and banter between Connelly and Cruise’s characters don’t have the same sexiness and tension that Maverick and Charlie had, but perhaps this was done on purpose. Romance isn’t supposed to be focus of this one anyway, and I respect that.

Ice Man

For Ice Man fans, Val Kilmer’s scenes will not disappoint! I will leave it at that.

Also, The Ending

You’ll know what I mean if you watch it. So seriously, go watch it!

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Though the first one will always have a special place in my heart, I realized the second one is also a good in movie in its own right. It is by no means going to replace the first one, and it’s not supposed to. It stands alone as a more complex, elevated add-on to the Top Gun storyline, perfect for today’s modern audience.