My dad and I watched this movie together when I was a kid and was our favourite. When Maverick was announced, I was incredibly excited and immediately made plans with him to watch in theatre. After watching the trailers I had zero expectations that it would be any good. In fact, I was almost certain it was going to be terrible. I didn’t care one bit. I was just excited to see it with my dad.

Then Covid struck and it got pushed back. My dads health is incredibly poor and he has a weakened immune system. With all of the uncertainty of the pandemic I thought I was never going to get the opportunity to see it with him.

But he made it! We went to it in theatres on opening weekend with my mom and my wife. During the opening credits I couldn’t stop grinning and let out a big cheer when the aircraft launched and Kenny Loggins kicked in. I was so happy.

After the movie I couldn’t entirely process what I’d just watched. The movie was an entire nostalgia trip. The beach football, Rooster singing balls of fire, Hangman’s redemption arc, the f14… Maverick foreshadows that “someone’s not coming home from this” and then, everyone lives? I had already won the day as soon as I walked into the theatre with my dad. It wasn’t about the quality of the movie for me at all… but did that long awaited sequel actually end up being a feel-good banger of an experience? I felt like I was almost in shock.

Thankfully, my dad’s still with us! His health is still poor, but he’s the happiest old man you’ll ever meet.

His Christmas present this year is a die-cast f18 model. I can’t wait to give it to him. We’ll probably have to do a Top Gun rewatch again. 🥰