Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Wish it had stuck with the opening credits’ simple cheesy fun formula of 80s music and jets flying around at sunset because other stuff like the dialogue (that opening bar scene introducing the aviators is excruciatingly long) and the romance (just, who cares?) is not done very well and interrupts any good flow garnered by the training sequences. That said, the emotion- and action-packed third act (“What were you thinking?” “You told me *not* to think!”) is pretty perfect with a Porsche on top.

6

Tag (2018)

A small group of former classmates organize an elaborate, annual game of tag that requires some to travel all over the country. (IMDb)

The goofy premise is a lot of fun, providing its share of incredulous comedy and wacky slapstick (Renner’s inner-voiceovers a la RDJ’s Sherlock Holmes were hilarious; see especially the AA attack), and the characters are all funny (stoner Chilli was a personal fav) and have great chemistry. More than that though, they both work together to spark interesting discussion on adult friendship, ethics in competition, and the value of play, leading to a moving final scene (the soundtrack was perfect).

7.5/10 (Really Good)