A great long-delay sequel - because time has passed, so Anthony Edwards' son can grow up and be a believable pilot, and Val Kilmer's real life illness can dovetail in a moving way.
It's a shame they didn't explain away Kelly MgGillis - they may as well have recast, or got her to play Kilmer's wife. The love plot with Jennifer Connelly feels a little sketchy - like, who is she? I know they give a backstory but it's a shame she just pours drinks? (The black officer character could've been female and had the romance). But she's the beard and like the first one was a romance with Kilmer this one is a father-son love story with Miles Teller. (This movie is less campy than the original - no Don Simpson?)
The rest is splendid. Wonderful scenes. Better script than the first (though the first created the world). The first was a sports movie with a very unconvincing climax. This makes the final mission integral and the whole course is about that mission.
Cribs from The Right Stuff (opening testing sequence, fabulous idea - they should've brought back Ed Harris at the end), Squadron 633/Star Wars/Dam Buster (final attack), The Bridges at Tokyo Ri (being shot down).
Fun up and comers. Cruise's age looks weird. Rousing moments. Really fun big screen spectacular.
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