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Despite a slow build up, cookie-cutter secondary characters and a slightly convoluted third act, the sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun” delivers in the end thanks to intense action sequences, strong lead characters and solid emotional payoffs. The film starts off slow, dishing out nostalgia while letting us catch up with Maverick before suddenly laying out the big mission (against an enemy that’s so intentionally vague it’s almost comical.) We’re then quickly introduced to the rest of the cast. While Jennifer Connelly’s Penny has enough charisma to keep up with Cruise, (even though she’s just a blatant swap out for Maverick’s love interest from the first film), the dozen or so pilots that fill out the cast are fairly generic and unmemorable. They’re all ridiculously good looking, in great shape and a bit cocky, with only Miles Teller’s Rooster getting any real characterization. The action during the training montages is fine but suffers from the fact that all the planes look alike on the outside, making it easy to lose track of who’s who. However, the finale is set up well and leads into the tension-filled final act. While this goes on a little too long, it leads to a few crowd-pleasing moments and some catharsis for the characters.
*** out of *****