Top Gun: Classic or Product of its Time?

Summary

The article reflects on the enduring popularity and cultural impact of the 1986 film Top Gun, questioning whether it deserves the status of a classic or is merely a product of its time, while also anticipating the reception of its upcoming sequel.

Abstract

The author, a self-professed member of Generation X, examines the widespread nostalgic adoration for Top Gun among peers, questioning if the film's status as a classic is warranted when compared to other critically acclaimed films of the 1980s. Despite enjoying the film as a guilty pleasure, the author critiques its lack of romantic chemistry, blatant military propaganda, and formulaic storytelling. However, the article acknowledges the film's role in propelling Tom Cruise to stardom, its impressive aerial sequences, and a beloved 1980s soundtrack. With the imminent release of Top Gun: Maverick, the author ponders the film's appeal to younger audiences, noting a surprising fondness for the original among his children. Ultimately, the author maintains that while Top Gun is undeniably entertaining and popular, it falls short of classic status due to its flaws.

Opinions

Top Gun is often nostalgically revered by Generation X, but the author is skeptical of its status as a classic.
The film's romantic subplot between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis lacks genuine chemistry, despite attempts to infuse eroticism through visuals.
The author suggests that the film's cooperation with the US military makes it feel like recruitment propaganda at times.
Tony Scott's direction, while visually impressive during aerial scenes, is not considered his best work, with later films like Crimson Tide and True Romance being superior.
The homoerotic undertones in the rivalry between Maverick and Iceman are acknowledged, though the author doubts they were intentional.
The soundtrack is praised for its bombastic 1980s pop music, including hits like Kenny Loggins's "Danger Zone" and Berlin's "Take My Breath Away."
The article expresses surprise at the film's appeal to younger generations, as evidenced by the author's own children's reactions.
Despite its flaws, including clichés, superficiality, and predictability, Top Gun is conceded to be an entertaining film with memorable flight sequences and a star-making performance by Tom Cruise.

Is Tony Scott’s 1986 smash hit as great as some claim?

Credit: Paramount

One film generally beloved by my fellow Generation X-ers is Top Gun. When speaking to anyone my age, mention Top Gun, and you invariably get a nostalgia-infused response of “classic film”. But is it truly an iconic classic, or merely a product of its time? I’ve seen the film more often than I care to admit, but I struggle with the mental gymnastics of putting it in the same bracket as bonafide 1980s greats. Do we really want to talk about Top Gun in the same breath as The Shining, Raging Bull, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Ran, Cinema Paradiso, Amadeus, Blue Velvet, Fanny and Alexander, Witness, or A Fish Called Wanda?

For the uninitiated, Top Gun was the film that made a big star out of Tom Cruise. He plays “typical” US navy aviator “Maverick” Pete Mitchell; a flamboyantly heroic, authority-defying, flies-by-the-seat-of-his-pants protagonist who, alongside best pal Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) is given the chance to compete alongside “the best of the best” in elite Air Force school Top Gun. Under the tutelage of Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf (Tom Skerritt) — who flew with Maverick’s killed-in-action father during Vietnam — Maverick butts heads with rival Tom “Iceman” Kazansky (Val Kilmer), falls in love with Top Gun civilian instructor Charlie (Kelly McGillis), and generally lives up to his callsign in daring aerial shenanigans, culminating in a Cold War skirmish with the Russians. Meg Ryan also pops up in an early supporting role.

I’ve always been cynical about Top Gun, whilst also enjoying it as a guilty pleasure. Made with the full cooperation of the US military, at times it feels like blatant recruitment propaganda. The love affair between Cruise and McGillis is astonishingly chemistry-free, no matter how much pseudo-erotic neon blue the late director Tony Scott (brother of Ridley) chucks at the screen during the sex scene. Elsewhere his visuals are admittedly impressive, especially during aerial sequences. But Tony Scott went on to make much better films (Crimson Tide, True Romance, and Man on Fire, for instance).

There’s a lot more chemistry in the rivalry between Cruise and Kilmer, into which some have read homoeroticism. Personally, I’ve never believed it was done on purpose, but who knows? There are lingering shots of sweaty topless men in showers, volleyball games, and so forth. However, all things considered, I’ve never taken it as more than standard 1980s male bonding. I don’t think Jack Epps Jr and Jim Cash’s screenplay is sufficiently nuanced for such interpretations to hold serious weight.

Homoerotic subtext? Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise clash. Credit: Paramount

It’s easy to see how Cruise became a star after this. The arrogant but courageous Maverick is a likeable character, and some of his antics are amusing. One scene in a club, where he approaches Charlie with a rendition of the Righteous Brothers’ You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling probably inspired all manner of harassing copycat incidents. But in the film, it comes off as charmingly daft.

Speaking of music, one thing I can’t deny is I love the soundtrack. It is bombastic and completely over-the-top, but like Beverly Hills Cop, it makes imaginative use of 1980s pop music. Kenny Loggins’s Danger Zone is an adrenaline blast during the opening, and Berlin’s Take My Breath Away (which reached number one in the UK singles chart) provides the film’s best attempt at pretending there’s a romantic spark between Cruise and McGillis. I’m also partial to underrated tracks such as Marietta’s Destination Unknown, and Harold Faltermeyer provides an appropriately synth-infused score.

With legacy sequel Top Gun: Maverick about to arrive in cinemas, I’m curious as to how much of a hit the film will prove. How beloved is Top Gun by younger audiences? Imagining most of today’s generation would prove indifferent, I got a surprise when showing the film to my children. The youngest, in particular, loved it, and it became one of his all-time favourites. Is his reaction typical of his age group? I doubt it, but I could be wrong.

As for me, I stand by everything I previously believed about Top Gun. I refuse to call it a classic, as it is flawed by cliché, superficiality, banality, predictability, militaristic propaganda, and an utter lack of romantic chemistry between the leads. On the other hand, it is entertaining in an extended pop video kind of way, with a dynamite 1980s soundtrack (if that’s to your taste), impressive flight sequences, and a star-making turn from Tom Cruise.

In short, for me, Top Gun remains what it always has been: A guilty pleasure, and undeniably popular (especially among my generation), but not a classic by my definition of the term.

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