PITT STOP

Forgive the cheesy title for this review, but it was either that or Making Hay While Sonny Shines. You see, Sonny Hayes is the name of Brad Pitt's character in his remake of Top Gun: Maverick—set in the world of Formula 1—a cross between his stuntman Cliff Booth from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Lightning McQueen from Disney's Cars.

As cinematic simulators go, this was an okay effort, though it sometimes had the artificial quality of a video game meets ChatGPT. There was a gloss to the whole picture that felt oddly uncinematic—almost hyperreal—and at times, it came across like an extended promotional advert for the sport. That’s fine, but it does remind you that Lewis Hamilton is one of the film’s producers, even making a cameo.

Personally, I dislike when real life and fiction intersect like this—it just kind of jars the mind when trying to invest in the reality of a make-believe story.

Still, it's a dumb-fun summer popcorn film. Anyone expecting anything else deserves disappointment. Brad Pitt does his usual older-man shtick fairly well, though he's developed an intensely irritating chuckle/laugh at odd moments that comes off as seriously goofy. But he looks good and gets plenty of “ooh, me old bones” moments—Wim Hoffing away in makeshift ice baths, running his hand over old scars, and flicking playing cards across his hotel room, where they land neatly in a key tray.

I enjoyed Javier Bardem in the film, though he was a little underused, and Tobias Menzies practically steals the whole show as a smooth-talking board member trying to pressure the team owner to sell. Menzies could make a great future James Bond villain.

All in all, I didn't leave the cinema with any regrets about not being a Formula One driver though I might have a crack at flicking some cards in a bit.