Top Gun

Hoo Boy! This movie was exactly what I needed. An iconic cheeseball of a flick that is seeped in 80's cliche and fucking knows it. Also, it's the movie that shot our boy Tom to Movie Star status in the first place, so it's no wonder the action film is massively entertaining in every campy and genuine way. 

Spoilers for Top Gun to follow. 

The movie immediately starts with that famous Top Gun score cue that I had completely forgotten about somehow, and instantly got the biggest and dumbest fucking smile on my face. I had forgotten how enjoyable this movie is. Honestly, I quickly came to realize I really didn't remember much from the movie at all, as it had been at least 15 to 20 years since I had actually watched it from beginning to end.  For some reason I never really felt the need to revisit it. The film itself was so popular and so referenced and made fun of that it felt like I had seen it 1000 times. I knew I liked it, I just never wanted to watch it. 

A feeling that stayed even after the announcement and subsequent trailers released for the long in development sequel. "Yea of course I'll see it, but no need to revisit the original", I thought. 

But then I started my Cruise Control journey and decided it was finally time to get reacquainted with one of Tom's most popular movies ever. 

And holy fucking shit. Top Gun is one of those perfect time capsules; a movie drenched in 1986 in every way possible and a supporting cast that includes Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, Tom Skerritt, Kelly McGillis, Meg Ryan and Michael Ironside(!). The score. The music. 30 seconds in and I began to remember exactly why this movie is so popular. It's easily one of the most entertaining blockbusters to come out of the 80s. It's got action, it's got romance, it's got bromance, it's got Tom Cruise playing volleyball on the beach in jeans. Director Tony Scott and DP Jeffrey L. Kimball (who also shot True Romance and and Beverly Hills Cop II for Tony) make it all look slick as shit. 

The action is pretty legit, as it features a large amount of actual aerial footage that is exhilarating, simply because it's real. They actually filmed fighter jets flying around and shit, and it's a real deal joy watching them do their thing instead of CGI nonsense. Tony and his filmmaking team were masters at action movie making of the time, and Top Gun helps prove it. 

I REALLY forgot about the love story though. And that's when I remembered that that's why this movie was so fucking huge. The Oscar winning song "Take My Breath Away" plays throughout the film, and it's every bit as ridiculous as you remember. The love scenes push the film's PG rating to the edge, with the most tongue display I think I've ever seen in a movie. It only adds to the ridiculousness that is Top Gun, but it also kind of works, cause Cruise and his co-star Kelly McGillis have real deal chemistry! You end up caring about them! I did at least, but I was completely enveloped with everything about this movie for this particular viewing. 

Like I said, Cruise and McGillis have great chemistry, but it's nowhere near as hot as Val and Tom. These two characters hate each other at first, and it just so happens that Val Kilmer is one of the great A+ Assholes cinema has ever bear witness to. There is one scene where Val is scolding Tom while keeping most of his attention to winding his watch, it's one of the most condescending moments ever captured on film and it is EVERYTHING.  

But then Goose dies. It was pure tragedy. Nothing Maverick could have done (he was even cleared of any malfeasance in the movie!), but of course he blames himself for his friends death and seemingly loses his edge and quits. When Val genuinely gives Tom his condolences, the moment hits hard because Tom and Val are both great actors, and even though the movie is absurd in the extreme, these two movie stars sell it. 

Speaking of Movie Star, time to talk about the star of show. Tom was in his early 20s when he filmed this and it's jarring how young he looks. Of course, Cruise was born charming, which he blends with a cocky attitude for the character of Maverick. It's an iconic Movie Star performance, full of swagger and equipped with that mega-watt smile. Tom Cruise became Tom Cruise with Top Gun. 

The movie grossed just under $180 million in the U.S. and $356 million worldwide, easily the highest grossing movie of 1986.  

I can't believe it took me this long to watch the movie again, but in a way I'm grateful. I had forgotten so much about the film that it made it feel fresh, enhanced with a heavy dose of nostalgia for what I did remember. It was a perfect storm of movie watching. Now go crack a beer, eat some chips and watch Top Gun. Trust me. 

I'm continuing Action Cruise by diving headfirst into the Mission: Impossible franchise next, so stay tuned. Until next time, ya goofs.