TOP GUN:MAVERICK – This is a ride!! And there’s no need to have seen the original movie to enjoy this one thanks to its almost identical format and storyline. The inclusion of photos and snippets from the first film helps, too, and is one of the things Kelly and I enjoyed the most. The movie is a bit long with dogfights going on forever. Some of the plot twists are predictable and the fighter jets’ trajectory through a long narrow corridor to reach their target seemed a throwback to the X-Wings in the first Star Wars film as they traveled through a similar maze on their mission to destroy the Death Star. That said, it is a fun adventure to experience in a theatre as we emerge from covid’s grip. I loved feeling the rumble of the seats and hearing the roar of the engines surround me – not to mention some spectacular flying (these pilots are a breed unto themselves) and no use of CGI. Cruise, at 59, is still gettin’ it done. The cocktail peeps break down this way – Sam was bored, Alex and Francine liked it, Kelly and I liked it a lot, Steve loved it. Cheers! Boyfriends – 0; Girlfriends – 0.