BREAKING–On Memorial Day Weekend Top Gun: Maverick flies into the box office at super-sonic speeds grossing $291 million in success. Though this is the sequel that we maybe didn’t want (because the history of sequels in books and movies is not very bright) it may be the movie that America needed to start chipping away at the walls of division that have been dominating society for the last decade.
I feel confident saying that we all agree that 2022 is not going as well as we hoped. With the war in Ukraine, mass shootings, COVID-19, subway bombings, supply chain struggles, the insane and frustrating housing market, and INFLATION (see my previous article 15 Stupid Easy Ways To Save Money Through This Inflation BS) we as a nation seem to have lost our American identity.
Now, let’s flashback to the ’80s when the first Top Gun movie premiered. Through the steamy volleyball scene, “Great Balls of Fire” covers, and dreamy fighter pilots, patriotism and freedom are the roots of the film. In fact, the Navy reported a 500% increase in enlistments after this classic film was released. Nevertheless, it gets you riled up and throw a fist in the air yelling “F*** yeah! America!”
Alright, now let’s get back to the present day. In America, summertime tends to be the more patriotic time of year–Memorial Day weekend being the kickoff of it all. Personally, I set the bar low going into the theater due to again–pop culture’s history with horrible sequels. But I was blown away by how action-packed, patriotic, and tough the film was. Just like the original film, it made me want to throw up a fist in the air saying “F*** yeah! America!” As dorky as it was, I clapped after the film along with the rest of the theater–then heard the murmurs of everyone raving with patriotism as we all filed out.
Now I really don’t care what side you lean on politically, and I am sure you don’t care where I lean either. But if you have seen either of the films, I feel confident saying that most people will leave feeling proud to be an American. From years of division between political parties, and self-sabotage as a nation, this film inspires patriotism “proud to be an American” mentality that not only boosts morale, but the positive affirmations of patriotism trickle down to other aspects in our lives-From big government to your local community to even your home.
This may not have been the sequel that we wanted-but it may be the one we needed to give our nation a little push back to unity. America is the Land of the Free, and Home of the Brave. Have this film remind you that we have only the bravest and best protecting this land that we all love and that we should be proud to be Americans.
xoxo, Triple Tea
Picture credit: vox.com
