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Bombastic, monochrome and simplistic – and yet still I love Top Gun Bombastic, monochrome and simplistic – and yet still I love Top Gun
(4 months later)
I have a confession to make: I like the movie Top Gun. Since its release in 1986 it has been my guilty pleasure, one of those films I love to hate while hating the fact that I love it. Any time the movie pops up on TV I’ll switch on the kettle and sink disgracefully into my sofa. As Top Gun celebrates its 30th anniversary this week, it’s time to examine why this 80s classic, despite all its sins, rubs me up the right way.I have a confession to make: I like the movie Top Gun. Since its release in 1986 it has been my guilty pleasure, one of those films I love to hate while hating the fact that I love it. Any time the movie pops up on TV I’ll switch on the kettle and sink disgracefully into my sofa. As Top Gun celebrates its 30th anniversary this week, it’s time to examine why this 80s classic, despite all its sins, rubs me up the right way.
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The story centres around an ill-disciplined but talented American fighter pilot nicknamed Maverick (Tom Cruise), who joins the elite Fighter Weapons school in California. Cocky with a flashy grin and stylish bomber jacket, Maverick takes us on a ride filled with skilful combat sequences and bromance, set against a pop art fantasy of sunsets and palm trees. This, and a kick-ass soundtrack, helped Top Gun gross more than $350m at the box office and boosted US Navy applications by 500%.The story centres around an ill-disciplined but talented American fighter pilot nicknamed Maverick (Tom Cruise), who joins the elite Fighter Weapons school in California. Cocky with a flashy grin and stylish bomber jacket, Maverick takes us on a ride filled with skilful combat sequences and bromance, set against a pop art fantasy of sunsets and palm trees. This, and a kick-ass soundtrack, helped Top Gun gross more than $350m at the box office and boosted US Navy applications by 500%.
But Top Gun also doubles as an unintentional comedy, thanks to some toe-curling male bonding. Its homoeroticism is the stuff of legend. We are treated to semi-naked locker room scenes in which Maverick’s rival, Iceman (Val Kilmer), leans within kissing distance of him and says: “I like you because you’re dangerous,” before snapping his teeth as if biting the proverbial pillow. Masculinity, Top Gun reminds us, is a horseshoe spectrum in which the gay and hyper-straight are not really so far apart.But Top Gun also doubles as an unintentional comedy, thanks to some toe-curling male bonding. Its homoeroticism is the stuff of legend. We are treated to semi-naked locker room scenes in which Maverick’s rival, Iceman (Val Kilmer), leans within kissing distance of him and says: “I like you because you’re dangerous,” before snapping his teeth as if biting the proverbial pillow. Masculinity, Top Gun reminds us, is a horseshoe spectrum in which the gay and hyper-straight are not really so far apart.
Maverick takes this virility to ridiculous heights. First, we see him barging into the ladies’ toilet to chat up his female flying instructor (Kelly McGillis) who, amazingly, agrees to go on a date with him. Having breezed through that transgression, Maverick plays topless volleyball on the beach until it is time for their rendezvous. The sweat hasn’t even dried before he’s putting on his T-shirt, rocking up at the instructor’s house and asking to use her shower. Minutes later, he’s at her dinner table – wearing the same sweat rags – and telling her: “You forgot the wine.”Maverick takes this virility to ridiculous heights. First, we see him barging into the ladies’ toilet to chat up his female flying instructor (Kelly McGillis) who, amazingly, agrees to go on a date with him. Having breezed through that transgression, Maverick plays topless volleyball on the beach until it is time for their rendezvous. The sweat hasn’t even dried before he’s putting on his T-shirt, rocking up at the instructor’s house and asking to use her shower. Minutes later, he’s at her dinner table – wearing the same sweat rags – and telling her: “You forgot the wine.”
If Maverick joined Tinder today he would be swiped off the left-hand side of the Earth. Luckily, naval school in 1986 was a good time to be a man, a place where Y chromosomes expressed themselves freely and dude-sweat stank as good as Chanel No 5. Our favourite pilot, even from his sky-high perspective, could not see the crisis of masculinity on the millennial horizon.If Maverick joined Tinder today he would be swiped off the left-hand side of the Earth. Luckily, naval school in 1986 was a good time to be a man, a place where Y chromosomes expressed themselves freely and dude-sweat stank as good as Chanel No 5. Our favourite pilot, even from his sky-high perspective, could not see the crisis of masculinity on the millennial horizon.
Top Gun presses all my feminist buttons. It makes me want to throw things at the screen, yet I can’t help but like it. Why? Being a minority on many fronts meant I rarely saw myself on screen in the 80s. Unable to identify with movie characters, I learned to distill storylines to their base essence. And the essence of Top Gun, the narrative it sells us, is simple and seductive.Top Gun presses all my feminist buttons. It makes me want to throw things at the screen, yet I can’t help but like it. Why? Being a minority on many fronts meant I rarely saw myself on screen in the 80s. Unable to identify with movie characters, I learned to distill storylines to their base essence. And the essence of Top Gun, the narrative it sells us, is simple and seductive.
Maverick may be naughty but he is constantly rewarded for it. Flying too low past the control tower and pissing off his superiors? Here’s an invite to the Top Gun school of aviation. Storming out of the classroom and rudely ignoring his instructor? Why not? Any man dressed in that bomber jacket can do what he damn well likes (even if he is wearing his granny’s panties underneath, as we later discover). And if Maverick’s instructor wants to chase him across town to give him an apology and a kiss then, goddamn it, let her – she owes him that.Maverick may be naughty but he is constantly rewarded for it. Flying too low past the control tower and pissing off his superiors? Here’s an invite to the Top Gun school of aviation. Storming out of the classroom and rudely ignoring his instructor? Why not? Any man dressed in that bomber jacket can do what he damn well likes (even if he is wearing his granny’s panties underneath, as we later discover). And if Maverick’s instructor wants to chase him across town to give him an apology and a kiss then, goddamn it, let her – she owes him that.
Sadly, Maverick is a fragile soul, haunted by the deaths of his classmate “Goose” and his pilot father. Still, he gets over his fears when it’s time for combat. After a pep talk and some clench-jawed contemplation, Maverick straps up, shoots down the “bogey” planes and returns to a hero’s welcome.Sadly, Maverick is a fragile soul, haunted by the deaths of his classmate “Goose” and his pilot father. Still, he gets over his fears when it’s time for combat. After a pep talk and some clench-jawed contemplation, Maverick straps up, shoots down the “bogey” planes and returns to a hero’s welcome.
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And that cements the appeal. In Top Gun’s world, things go to plan without complication. This is Ronald Reagan’s America where the US Air Force kills the enemy through stylish aerial dogfights rather than dropping bombs on to family compounds from drones. Maverick’s foes have no names, faces or backstories to trouble anyone’s conscience, and victory comes swiftly.And that cements the appeal. In Top Gun’s world, things go to plan without complication. This is Ronald Reagan’s America where the US Air Force kills the enemy through stylish aerial dogfights rather than dropping bombs on to family compounds from drones. Maverick’s foes have no names, faces or backstories to trouble anyone’s conscience, and victory comes swiftly.
The joy of this simplicity is embedded in my childhood heart. If Top Gun came out today I wouldn’t watch it – it is too bombastic, monochrome and sexist – but I’ll let these things slide since I don’t judge 1980s blockbusters by the same standards as post-9/11 ones.The joy of this simplicity is embedded in my childhood heart. If Top Gun came out today I wouldn’t watch it – it is too bombastic, monochrome and sexist – but I’ll let these things slide since I don’t judge 1980s blockbusters by the same standards as post-9/11 ones.
Top Gun gets a free pass for letting me relive the have-your-cake optimism of my youth. Watching it leaves me feeling so pumped I find myself doing the vacuum cleaning with a swagger afterwards. Very few movies have that effect, and for that I have to thank Maverick. Yes, he’s a sexist tosser, but he can be my wingman any time.Top Gun gets a free pass for letting me relive the have-your-cake optimism of my youth. Watching it leaves me feeling so pumped I find myself doing the vacuum cleaning with a swagger afterwards. Very few movies have that effect, and for that I have to thank Maverick. Yes, he’s a sexist tosser, but he can be my wingman any time.