Not a whole lot of originality went into this thing, but for some reason, it doesn’t really matter. We’re not buying tickets to see deep, nuanced characters and intricate plot development; it’s all about cool people flying fighter jets. And, whoo, does ‘Maverick’ deliver. Cruise is great (as is Miles Teller and a supporting cast that includes some familiar faces), the mid-air choreography is off the charts, and it more than gets the job done as a popcorn matinee throwback to the 1986 classic.
4/5 stars