Summary
AlthoughTop Gunis a cult classic,Top Gun: Maverickproved that one element of the original movie never really worked.Top Gunwas a huge success with audiences when the propulsive blockbuster released in 1986. Director Tony Scott’s movie was less of a hit with critics, who mostly mocked its excesses but still conceded thatTop Gundid possess a certain corny charm. Over time, the original movie’s reputation improved, andTop Gunwas eventually remembered as a classic Tom Cruise vehicle. In the process, some of its more questionable elements were effectively excused until a re-watch.
ByTop Gun: Maverick’s ending, it was clear that the sequel had outclassed the original movie.Top Gun’s sequel was more emotionally resonant than the bombastic original, with Cruise offering a more nuanced portrayal of an older Maverick driven by grief and regret as much as cocksure confidence. Maverick’s conflicted demeanor was one of the biggest differences between the two movies, althoughTop Gun: Maverickalso benefited from some incredible new technology to capture its aerial action. WhileTop Gun 3’s storymight showcase this tech even more, one ofTop Gun: Maverick’s best subplots was much more grounded.
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Top Gun: Maverick’s Romance Highlights Top Gun’s Terrible Romance
Charlie & Maverick Have None of Penny & Maverick’s Chemistry
InTop Gun: Maverick, Cruise’s character rekindled his romance with an old flame named Penny Benjamin. Viewers who recall the original movie well might remember that name since Penny was briefly mentioned in passing inTop Gun. Jennifer Connelly’s beleaguered love interest was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Maverick for decades by the timeTop Gun: Maverickbegan, so she didn’t take his promises of sticking around too seriously. However, Maverick proved that he truly was a changed man when he returned to Penny after the movie’s triumphant final mission, highlighting an original movie problem.
Infamously,Top Gun’s romantic subplot between Charlie and Maverick was mostly added post-productionwhen test audiences felt there wasn’t enough romance. It shows, with the romance subplot accounting for many of the original movie’s worst moments on a re-watch.Top Gun’s sex scenes were legendarily bad, while Charlie and Maverick’s entire relationship felt tacked on. Even upon a re-watch, it becomes clear that none of it gelled with Maverick’s larger character arc. Maverick spentTop Gunlearning to overcome his ego and, later, his guilt over Goose’s death. Charlie’s romantic storyline rarely intersected with this plot at all.
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How Top Gun Got Away With Its Pointless Romantic Subplot
The Movie’s Iconic Soundtrack Helped
AlthoughTop Gun’s romance subplot was never necessary to the story, the superfluous scenes are rarely highlighted as a movie-ruining flaw.Top Gun’s iconic soundtrack is likely the reason why. Berlin’s huge hit “Take My Breath Away” played over Charlie and Maverick’s romantic montage together, which covered a multitude of sins. Much like its sequels got away with largely underusingTop Gun: Maverick’s breakout character Hangmanby keeping its action fast-paced and dramatic,Top Gunused a stunning song to paper over the pointlessness of Charlie and Maverick’s unnecessary romance.
Much like Maverick needed to face his grief over losing Goose by working with his son Rooster, Penny helped him embrace his past.
Maverick and Charlie’s love story was saved by great music, but the plot itself never added much to the movie. This was whyTop Gun: Maverickwas able to get away without even mentioning Maverick’s original love interest, even though his reunion with her comprised the final scene of the original movie. In contrast, Connelly’s Penny Benjamin felt pivotal toTop Gun: Maverick’s story since she represented Maverick’s chance to stop running from responsibility and intimacy. Much like Maverick needed to face his grief over losing Goose by working with his son Rooster, Penny helped him embrace his past.
Penny Fit Top Gun: Maverick’s Story Perfectly
Penny and Maverick’s History Made Their Romance Compelling
Top Gun: Maverick’s romantic subplot not only mirrored its main storyline but felt like part of the same larger character journey.
Penny and Maverick’s chemistry felt lived-in since their origins were helpfully backdated to a line from the original movie. TheTop Gunfranchise’s original premisecentered on a renegade test pilot who refused to play by the rules, so it made perfect sense for Penny and Maverick to spend years dodging each other before finally settling down. Maverick dating his teacher Charlie never really fit his character arc, but his return to an old flame after decades of running from his past was poignant.
Crucially, Maverick’s struggle with responsibility and grief defined both his character arc inTop Gun: Maverickand his relationship with Penny.Top Gun: Maverick’s romantic subplot not only mirrored its main storyline but felt like part of the same larger character journey. The decisions saved the sequel from repeating the original movie’s mistake of adding a subplot that could have been jettisoned entirely. In the process,Top Gun: Maverickhighlighted just how muchTop Gundidn’t need Charlie and Maverick’s awkwardly inserted romantic subplot.
