10 Ways Tom Cruise’s Top Gun Hasn’t Aged Well

Summary

• Top Gun
  has become a classic 1980s movie despite a mediocre Rotten Tomatoes score and some plot inconsistencies.
• The film’s use of iconic songs like “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away” is criticized for being overused.
• Maverick and Iceman’s newfound respect for each other in the film seems rushed and unrealistic.

Tom Cruise’s Top Gun has become a memorable and important film over the past 38 years, yet there are still some weaker parts of the plot. Top Gun is a fun, action-filled movie about a reckless Navy pilot named Maverick and his partner Goose, who attend the Top Gun Academy. The film has many famous montages, iconic songs, and Top Gun’s infamously bad sex scene. Tom Cruise leads Top Gun’s iconic cast as Maverick, along with Anthony Edwards as Goose, and Kelly McGillis as Maverick’s love interest and instructor, Charlie Blackwood.

Top Gun is highly quotable and revered as a classic 1980s movie. It received an even more successful sequel in 2022, Top Gun: Maverick. On a mere $15 million budget, Top Gun grossed $357.3 million at the box office. The film has a mediocre Rotten Tomatoes score, but many still think of it fondly. However, on rewatch 38 years later, there are some parts of the film that make no sense and haven’t aged well.

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10 The Nationless Enemy MiG Pilots

The Movie Becomes Timeless With No Real Enemies

The final battle scene of Top Gun is set somewhere in the Indian Ocean, though no further details are included. Even in the briefing, the adversaries are only ever referred to as “the enemy,” leaving them nationally ambiguous. The film seems to be indifferent to the specific geopolitical reality of 1986, instead focusing on a cinematic and dramatic flight scene more than anything.

It could be argued that this aged well since the movie is not firmly fixed in a period or conflict. Even upon rewatch, the nameless adversaries could be read as a variety of “enemies.” The movie’s sequel does something vaguely similar, setting the final battle on an unknown foreign land. The movies are about American exceptionalism, exploring the American planes and pilots instead of diving into real political issues. Overall, this choice might benefit the film, giving it a timelessness.

9 The Overuse Of The Film’s Iconic Songs

Some Songs Are Played A Few Too Many Times In The Film

In the film, two main songs play in various scenes throughout the film, depending on what’s happening. When there is a cool flying scene, or Maverick accomplishes something dangerous, “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins plays. When Maverick and Charlie have a scene together, whether it be romantic or fighting, “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin plays. Both songs were singles written for the film by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder. The film also made significant use of the lyricless “Top Gun Anthem” by Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens.

“Take My Breath Away” by Berlin won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Despite the success and popularity of these songs, the film relies too heavily on them. Both songs play at least three separate times in the movie, acting as musical themes. However, it can be distracting from the plot that the highly recognizable soundtrack plays for a significant portion of essential scenes.Top Gun: Maverick began with the same opening score, paying homage to its predecessor, but ultimately made use of a different soundtrack for the rest of the film.

8 Maverick and Iceman’s New Respect For Each Other Makes No Sense

They Get Over Their Difference Weirdly Fast

Maverick and Iceman spend most of the film at each other’s throats, struggling to see eye to eye. Iceman doesn’t respect Maverick’s chaotic ways, and Maverick believes Iceman is just a buzzkill. Iceman even tells Maverick outright that he doesn’t like him because he is “dangerous” and “unsafe.” There is a reason for Iceman’s disapproval, even if Maverick refuses to believe it. Some believe that Iceman might have made an even better protagonist, being the superior pilot. However, since the movie is told from Maverick’s perspective, Iceman’s attitude is seen as antagonistic.

However, by the end of the film, after Maverick has successfully worked with Iceman to defeat the enemy, there is a newfound sense of respect between the two. Iceman looks disapprovingly, saying, “You are still dangerous… You can be my wingman anytime.” He then smiles at Maverick as the two begin to get along. It seems to be a quick turnaround for both of them, as if all it took was this recent challenge to bond them and help them overcome their differences. In the sequel, the two regard each other as old friends.

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7 Top Gun’s Volleyball Game Is Peak 1980s Cringe

The Scene Doesn’t Add Much To The Movie

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Top Gun‘s infamous volleyball scene is famous for multiple reasons. Aside from homoerotic undertones between the pilots, the scene is an iconic display of masculine sports. The scene features Maverick and Goose, who play mostly shirtless volleyball against Iceman and his partner, Slider. Many spikes, bumps, and attack maneuvers almost seem to mirror what the pilots do while flying.

However, the scene doesn’t add much to the movie’s plot and seems more gratuitous than anything. It’s an homage to the attractive Top Gun actors, as well as the growing trend of cliché training/sports montages in 1980s movies. The scene, which has become synonymous with the film, was replicated in the sequel with a “dogfight football” game on the beach. It maintained many of the same undertones while becoming slightly more progressive and honoring Cruise’s involvement in the original montage.

6 Maverick & Charlie’s Romance Story Feels Pointless After Top Gun: Maverick

They Are No Longer Together Despite The Emotional Investment

In the film, Maverick and his Top Gun instructor, Charlie, have an almost forced relationship. The romance is weird and borderline inappropriate, as Maverick begins dating his teacher while still in school. She puts aside some of her goals and morals in order to be with him. And though he rarely expresses it outright, the other people in the film can tell he loves her. However, Maverick and Charlie are no longer together in the film’s sequel, and he has moved on.

Top Gun dedicates a lot of screen time and emotional investment to the budding relationship between Maverick and Charlie. However, all of that is thrown out the window when Charlie does not appear in the sequel, and Maverick is now interested in Penny, who is mentioned in passing in the first film. There are many theories as to why Maverick and Charlie have parted ways, but it seems the relationship has just expired with time, making the buildup from the first movie feel rather pointless.

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5 They Still Let Maverick Fly In The Final Battle

He Gives Little Indication That He Is Ready To Return To The Sky

Although he is clearly still reeling from the death of his co-pilot, Goose, the leaders decide to send Maverick into the fight. They evidently believe he is inherently a good pilot and will be able to snap back into action when put in a life-or-death situation. This is a wildly dangerous strategy, given that there was no indication that Maverick was okay to fly. Prior to the mission, he arrived late to the ceremony after spending weeks brooding with no mental health support.

Just because Maverick no longer believes that he is at fault for Goose’s death doesn’t mean he won’t still be affected when he returns to the plane.

They have reason to believe that Maverick still cares about flying, given that he finally showed up to graduation and spent time trying to unpack his father’s death. However, there is no indication that he is ready to return to the fight. Especially since his behavior has been erratic since Goose’s passing, as Maverick carries a lot of guilt. By the end, just because Maverick no longer believes that he is at fault for Goose’s death doesn’t mean he won’t still be affected when he returns to the plane.

4 Maverick and Charlie’s Overly Cheesy Romance

Their Relationship Feels Forced

Close

Not only is Maverick and Charlie’s relationship inappropriate, given that she is his teacher, but it’s almost hard to watch. They are shown hanging out only a handful of times, but it seems their relationship has escalated immensely each time. Maverick pursues her in an unorthodox way, even after knowing she is his superior. This fact even seems to bother him, as he mentions her high-level security clearance several times.

Charlie and Maverick are career-driven people who prioritize their passions above all else. They also have a shared sense of respect for each other’s work. However, they also frequently argue about Top Gun and Maverick’s MiG. Yet, it is clear those are just an excuse to fight about the deeper underlying issues in their relationship. Due to their hardheaded nature, the romantic moments shown have to be incredibly tender to make up for the rest. This becomes borderline cheesy since it has to be force-fed to the audience for them to believe they really like each other.

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3 The Lack of Representation in Top Gun

The Cast Is Mainly White Men

A prominent complaint of Top Gun is the lack of diversity within the program. Throughout the film, very few pilots of color are shown or given spoken lines. There are no women trainees either, with only two significant female characters in the movie (Charlie and Carole Bradshaw), both of whom are romantically attached to a male character. Goose’s wife, Carole, is mostly there to gossip with Charlie and flirt with her husband. Charlie, a high-minded scientist, is often reduced to Maverick’s support system in the film.

The sequel did what it could to remedy this, including more women and non-white characters. Seven of the 12 pilots in the sequel were people of color. However, both stories still revolve around a white male protagonist. The increased inclusion in the sequel helps reflect the growing diversity in the U.S. armed forces. This also attracted a wider crowd of non-white viewers.

Top Gun
is available to stream on Paramount+.
Top Gun: Maverick
is streaming on MGM+, Paramount+, and Prime Video.

2 Maverick And Goose Are Sent To Top Gun Despite Their Behavior

The Two Go To The Elite Academy Even Though They Are Reckless

In the opening scene, Maverick and Goose are shown disobeying orders and flying recklessly. They are even so dangerous they psych out their fellow pilot, Cougar. With Cougar gone, the duo are promoted to Top Gun and sent to become elite flyers. Their fellow Top Gun trainees also express doubt at their enrollment, even asking whose “butt they had to kiss” to get to the academy.

Given their blatant disobedience to the rules, the Navy seems to encourage and promote Maverick and Goose’s dangerous behaviors. The military, which still encourages adherence to regulations and policy, would likely not be eager to send away their most reckless pilots. Though it might be easier for their boss now that they’re out of his hair, the men would likely receive some form of punishment for their transgressions, not be promoted.

1 Maverick Is Selfish And Makes It Everyone’s Problem

No One Holds Him Accountable For His Actions

Maverick’s defiant attitude is often lauded because he achieves results in his flying. However, most of his actions are really selfish, as he usually tries to prove a point without much consideration for others. He seems to have little respect for his superiors or authority, and has no qualms about showing off. He embraces danger, even at the expense of other team members, especially his flying partner Goose, who seems to have come to terms with Maverick’s carelessness.

Maverick’s biggest adversary in the Top Gun school is Iceman, who often criticizes Maverick for not following the rules. Iceman knows that the rules are essential for safety, and there are many instances of him telling Maverick he believes he is unsafe. Luckily, Maverick is a good enough pilot to be able to accomplish missions in his flying, even if he does it in unorthodox ways. While this free spirit and reckless nature make Top Gun compelling, it is stressful to watch, especially when considering the other characters involved.

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In this classic action flick, Tom Cruise stars as daring young pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Among the other students at the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school, he competes to be best in the class, and learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.

Director Tony Scott Release Date May 16, 1986 Cast Tom Cruise , Kelly McGillis , Val Kilmer , Anthony Edwards , Tom Skerritt Runtime 110 minutes Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Jack Epps Jr. , Jim Cash Expand

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Category: Entertainment