How to make a commercial movie: take a bunch of old familiar elements (underdog hero joins army and becomes a man, falling in love and earning respect of his peers... that was in Buck Privates) and jazz it up with modern ones: a hit theme song, more explicit sex and swearing, a black drill instructor, a female officer candidate. It also had two new stars (well new-ish, both were coming off hit movies) in Richard Gere and Debra Winger. Gere is handsome, looks good on his motorbike and in whites, but its Winger who is the real star here - she is vivacious, sexy and fun, and looks at him with real adoration (he never seems into her as much but she puts their romance over the line).
Much of this hasn't aged well - the constant homophobia in the dialogue, over the top scenes, the karate sub plot - but it has good atmosphere, decent acting (especially from Winger but David Keith impresses and Lou Gossett Jnr does all his role requires), and a really terrific wish fulfilment ending. Top Gun followed this template closely to rich reward.
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