My Top Gun Maverick movie review will deal with Cruise’s role as a fighter pilot who must pass on his knowledge to a new generation of young men. This is not the same Maverick we know, but the same pilot and the same challenges. Maverick has to deal with new challenges on the mission and his relationship with his son Goose. But that’s not all; this is also one of the best films of Cruise’s career.

While the film has a female lead, it doesn’t feel very authentic. The dialogue is still Hallmark Naval academy-era dialogue, and the plot is clumsy, but it has more pacing and a tighter screenplay. The film even has Goose’s son and an impossible mission, a common trope in action movies. I’m not sure if this makes the film better, but I’m glad I got to see it anyway.

Unlike most action movies, Maverick isn’t entirely about Cruise, though. He’s an excellent rogue, and he loves being given impossible odds. In fact, he even makes Jon Hamm pucker in frustration. And, of course, there’s the whole “rogue-ism” aspect, which is always a good thing in my book. But even with all of that, the action is a bit more realistic than Maverick.

While Tom Cruise tries to bring in-depth to his signature character, he doesn’t overstep his own core qualities. Jennifer Connelly is good as Maverick’s love interest, and Teller gives one of his most memorable performances since Whiplash.

I highly recommend seeing this movie. I watched it at the Indiana State Museum’s IMAX, the largest movie screen in Indiana.