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Well, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’: that’s a definite 5 thumbs up from me 👍👍👍👍👍. For those not born when ‘Top Gun’ came out in the 80s it stands alone just fine in its own right, but it would definitely be worth checking out the original. It would help to know the back drop to the stories of Maverick, Ice Man and Goose; to be aware of the familiarity with the iconic aviator shades, the leather jacket, the motor bike, and even the Porsche at the end; plus a whole bunch of other affectionate back references, without giving away any plot-spoilers. As soon as Kenny Loggins’ ‘Danger Zone’ kicks in, while a series of supersonic fighter jets take off from an aircraft carrier in the opening credits, you know you’re in for a ride, and it has to be said Tom, and indeed his character Maverick, have aged very well and adapted to the times 36 years on. Back in 1986, midway through septuagenarian US President Ronald Reagan’s second term, the original ‘Top Gun’ did come across as a bit gung ho, and somewhat of a glorified advert for Ametican military power. Now In 2022’s ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, not yet at the half way point of the first term of septuagenarian US President Joe Biden, who would’ve been 42 back in ‘86, the President himself is wearing Maverick’s aviator shades, and the US has been in a whole bunch of real wars since those end-of-the-Cold-War days, and the movie acknowledges that change in a number of interesting ways. I won’t say any more because I don’t want to spoil the plot but I will add that I’m definitely going to go see it again, perhaps at an IMAX screen if I can, and I can’t think of anyone I wouldn’t recommend it to. Anyhow, there ya go, folks: it’s a good ‘un 👍👍👍👍👍

So... “Yesterday”.. Well, you could drive a truck through the holes in the plot, or at least the time line continuum, but if you’re prepared to suspend belief, which clearly you have to, then this is a very likeable Richard Curtis movie, with the same kind of feel as Love Actually, Four weddings & a Funeral, Notting Hill et al, and I hope it gets to last as long and be held in as much affection as those three classics are. It’s anchored by two very likeable leads.. Himesh Patel and Lilly James.. with, as per the above-mentioned trio of movies , plenty of likeable supporting cast members, including the wonderful Kate McKinnon, who is deliciously ghastly as the LA music mogul and Ed Sheeran being a great sport being himself. While some of the big gag moments are already given away by the widely-seen trailer, that doesn’t stop them being funny upon actual viewing in context, and there are a number of other very funny moment too. And yes, the music from the Fab Four is Ab Fab! Will be interested to read the reviews online today, but I’m happy to give it 4.75 stars out of five, and would love to see it in a packed cinema with everyone singing along, which is how I first saw ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ last year. “Hey Dudes: I loved it Yeah Yeah Yeah” 🎶🎶. And now to return home to tackle some more marking..