“Top Gun: Maverick” is the most exciting entertainment you’re likely to experience short of an amusement park thrill ride.

The film, a sequel to “Top Gun” (1986), revisits Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) at the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, known as Top Gun, where Maverick is tasked to train pilots for a top secret mission to destroy a uranium enrichment facility in a foreign nation.

Geopolitical concerns about the wisdom of such a mission aside (The nation is not named nor vaguely described.), the task sets up a storyline of bravery, dedication, romance and a healthy dose of bro-mance.

Maverick is in immediate trouble with his commanding officer (Ed Harris) when he pilots an unauthorized test flight of an experimental plane (based on an SR-71 and the prototype SR-72) in an attempt to break Mach 10 (approximately 10 times the speed of sound).

This lands Maverick back at Top Gun, where he teaches the young pilots the rules of the game, tricks of the trade and gets to know the reasons for their call names, aka nicknames.

Maverick butts heads with another commanding officer (Jon Hamm), as well as several of the pilots, including Rooster (Miles Teller), son of Maverick’s best friend Goose, who had died in a situation for which Maverick still feels guilty, and with the smug Hangman (Glen Powell).

Maverick reconnects with an old flame, Penny (Jennifer Connolly), who runs a local tavern where the pilots hang out when off-duty.

As the storyline progresses through the training, Maverick visits with Iceman (Val Kilmer).

“Top Gun: Maverick” is a terrific action film, with exhilarating flying sequences of F-18 Super Hornet fighter jets zooming and rolling and streaking over and above and around each other. The scenes are amazing beyond description.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is an insightful film about the skills and courage of Navy pilots who navigate fast, complex and impressive fighter planes.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is a love story about Maverick and Penny, which unfolds in a chaste and charming way.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is a love story in the best sense between men and women of honor, patriotism and loyalty.

The cast includes Monica Barbaro (Phoenix), Jay Ellis (Payback), Danny Ramirez (Fanboy), Greg Tarzan Davis (Coyote), Manny Jacinto (Fritz), Charles Parnell (Warlock) and Bashir Salahuddin (Hondo).

Director Joseph Kosinski (“Only the Brave,” 2017; “Oblivion,” 2013; “Tron: Legacy,” 2010) balances action scenes and dialogue scenes masterfully, allowing plenty of time for all.

The scenes between Cruise and Connelly are among the best romantic scenes of recent movies.

The scene between Cruise and Kilmer is very moving.

The screenplay, by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, with a story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks based on characters created by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., brings the elements of great cinema to the fore with a mix of realism, detail and sensitivity.

The cinematography by Claudio Miranda (Oscar recipient, cinematography, “Life of Pi,” 2012) is spectacular.

Cruise (Oscar nominee, supporting actor, “Magnolia,” 2000; Oscar nominee, actor, ”Jerry Maguire,” 1996, and “Born on the Fourth of July,” 1990) is eminently watchable. His face transmits his inner emotions with a minimalist style that is effective.

Connelly (Oscar recipient, supporting actress, “A Beautiful Mind,” 2001) is charming with a serene and strong presence in the role of a single mother and businesswoman.

Cruise and Connelly have great chemistry.

Miles Teller (“Whiplash,” 2014) is excellent as a soldier coming to terms with his grudge against Maverick.

Val Kilmer is brave in a small role of great humanity and significance.

“Top Gun: Maverick” is deserving of several Oscar nominations: supporting actor, Val Kilmer; supporting actor, Miles Teller; supporting actress, Jennifer Connelly; actor, Tom Cruise, and numerous technical nominations.

Tom Cruise is top gun once again. Call him “Top” star. He’s one of the last among Hollywood’s leading men.

If you’re a fan of Tom Cruise, military action films and love stories, don’t miss “Top Gun: Maverick.”

“Top Gun: Maverick,”

MPAA rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.) for sequences of intense action and some strong language; Genre: Action, Drama; Run time: 2 hours, 10 minutes. Distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“Tom Gun: Maverick” includes the song, “Danger Zone,” from the original “Tom Gun.” Lady Gaga sings “Hold My Hand” during the closing credits. Filming included several California locations. The film’s 2019 release date was delayed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown. The World War II era P-51 Mustang in beginning and ending scenes is owned by Tom Cruise, who is a pilot.

At The Movies:

“Top Gun: Maverick” was seen in Dolby Cinema at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16. The jet engines’ roared and rumbled and the theater seats vibrated so often I thought I was testing out a massage lounge chair at The Great Allentown Fair.

Theatrical Domestic Movie Box Office,

June 3-5: “Top Gun: Maverick” flew high and fast again, No. 1 two straight weeks, with a very solid $85.9 million, in 4,751 theaters, $291.6 million, two weeks.

It’s Cruise’s biggest theatrical domestic movie ever, surpassing “War of the Worlds” (2005), at $234.2 million.

2. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” stayed in place, $9.2 million, in 3,765 theaters, $388.7 million, five weeks. 3. “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” stayed in place, $4.5 million, in 3,425 theaters, $22.2 million two weeks. 4. “The Bad Guys” moved up one place, $3.3 million, in 2,852 theaters; $87.2 million, seven weeks. 5. “Downton Abbey: A New Era” dropped one place, $2.9 million, in 3,471 theaters; $35.7 million, three weeks. 6. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” stayed in place, $2 million, in 1,434 theaters; $60.5 million, 11 weeks. 7. “Vikram,” opening, $1.7 million, in 465 theaters, $1.7 million. 8. “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” dropped one place, $1.7 million, in 2,092 theaters; $188.2 million, nine weeks. 9. “The Lost City” dropped one place, $1.3 million, in 811 theaters; $104 million, 11 weeks. 10. “Crimes of the Future,” opening, $1 million, in 773 theaters.

Box office information from Box Office Mojo as of June 5 is subject to change.

Theatrical Domestic Movie Box Office,

May 27-29: “Top Gun: Maverick” zoomed to a No. 1 opening, $126.7 million, in 4,735 theaters, ending the three-week No. 1 run of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” $16 million, in 3,805 theaters, $370.4 million, four weeks, as “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” opened at No. 3, with $12.4 million, in 3,425 theaters.

With Memorial Day’s grosses added, “Top Gun: Maverick” took in $151 million, the biggest debut in Cruise’s career.

The four-day weekend record for the Memorial Day weekend is held by “The Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (2017), $153 million.

“Top Gun: Maverick” was the fourth highest domestic opening of 2022, following “The Batman,” $134 million; “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” $187 million, and “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” $260 million.

4. “Downton Abbey: A New Era” dropped two places, $5.7 million, in 3,830 theaters; $28.3 million, two weeks. 5. “The Bad Guys” dropped two places, $4.3 million, in 2,944 theaters; $81.1 million, six weeks. 6. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” stayed in place, $2.4 million, in 1,187 theaters; $56.7 million, 10 weeks. 7. “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” dropped three places, $2.4 million, in 2,329 theaters; $185 million, eight weeks. 8. “The Lost City” moved up one place, $2 million, in 1,027 theaters; $101.9 million, 10 weeks. 9. “Men” dropped four places, $1.2 million, in 2,196 theaters, two weeks. 10. “F3: Fun and Frustration,” opening, $1 million, in 400 theaters.

Box office information from Box Office Mojo as of May 30 is subject to change.

Unreel,

June 10:

“Jurassic World Dominion,”

PG-13: Colin Trevorrow directs Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum in the Action, Adventure, Science-Fiction Thriller. Dinosaurs now roam the Earth. The film is the sixth sequel going back to the original 1993 movie.

Five Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes