Top Gun: Maverick

Grade: NOT RECOMMENDED

Summary

While "Top Gun: Maverick" features themes of duty and sacrifice, its depiction of pre-marital cohabitation and sexual impurity, alongside moderate violence and some profanity, makes it problematic for Catholic families. The movie normalizes grave sin, creating an occasion of sin and potential scandal.

Moral Concerns

• Fornication/Cohabitation (Maverick and Penny's relationship)
• Sexual impurity (implied sexual activity, suggestive dialogue)
• Moderate violence (intense aerial combat, dogfights, explosions, implied death)
• Profanity (likely given PG-13 rating and action genre, though not explicitly detailed in reviews)
• Scandal (normalizing pre-marital sexual relationships)

Positive Elements

• Themes of duty and loyalty
• Sacrifice for a greater good (mission success, protecting teammates)
• Mentorship and intergenerational connection (Maverick and Rooster)
• Courage and perseverance in the face of danger
• Redemption (Maverick's relationship with Rooster)

Detailed Analysis

The film 'Top Gun: Maverick' receives a 'NOT RECOMMENDED' grade primarily due to its portrayal of sexual immorality. The relationship between Maverick and Penny Benjamin, as implied by the overview and common knowledge of the franchise, involves cohabitation and sexual intimacy outside of marriage. This constitutes grave matter (the Sixth Commandment: 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' which encompasses all forms of sexual impurity outside of marriage) and is presented as an acceptable, even romantic, aspect of the protagonist's life. This normalization of fornication creates an occasion of sin for viewers and can cause scandal, particularly for younger audiences who may perceive such relationships as morally neutral or even desirable. While the film does not feature explicit sexual content, the implied sexual impurity is a significant moral concern. Additionally, as an action film with a PG-13 rating, it contains moderate violence, including intense aerial combat and explosions, which, while not excessively graphic, still depicts actions that can lead to death and destruction. Some profanity is also likely present, though not explicitly detailed in the provided reviews. On the positive side, the movie does highlight virtues such as duty, loyalty, courage, and self-sacrifice for a greater good, particularly in the context of military service and protecting one's comrades. The theme of mentorship and the pursuit of redemption in Maverick's relationship with Rooster are also commendable. However, these positive elements do not outweigh the grave moral problem of normalizing sexual impurity, which is a direct violation of God's law and poses a risk of scandal.

This review is based on traditional Catholic moral teaching as found in the Baltimore Catechism and the Ten Commandments. It is intended to help Catholic families make informed viewing decisions.