Finally there’s probably the role that cemented Cruise as a movie star for generations to come. Although he has reinvented himself a few times and continued to keep himself relevant by taking on new challenges and demonstrating a kind of consistency that is rare in an industry as vicious as Hollywood, to many, Cruise will always hold a special place as Maverick, the brash young pilot who wants to prove to Val Kilmer that he is indeed the one flyer who is cock of the walk despite Kilmer’s insistence that he is cock of nothing.
Ambiguous homoeroticism aside, Cruise’s attitude is the driving force behind the Maverick character and the film works on the merits of his balls, and Kilmer’s jealousy of his balls. Ok so maybe it’s impossible to dismiss the gay stuff entirely. Gay or not, the prowess and bravado Cruise shows whether he’s singing at a bar with a bunch of his guy friends (to a LADY, don’t forget!) or strutting his stuff in tight jeans on the beach volleyball court (the Top Gun high five is iconic) is magnetic and loads of fun to watch.
With Oblivion sure to become the latest launching pad for the Tom Cruise missile, it doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving the danger zone any time soon. I think we’ll all be just fine with that.
