For several reasons, “Top Gun” has managed to rank among the best cult films of all time. If you take away the fact that the 1986 Himmelstürmer spectacle simply struck a chord at the time, its success can be determined by three clear points: impressive visuals, a thoroughly iconic soundtrack and Tom Cruise.
That “Top Gun 2: Maverick” also went through the roof is surprising at first glance, but you shouldn’t underestimate Tom Cruise’s star power and the unbridled power of nostalgia. In addition, the belated sequel also drew on phenomenal word of mouth, as the action scenes in particular blew even non-fans of the original out of their cinema seats.
While 2006’s “Every Second Counts – The Guardian” is nowhere near in the cult class of a “Top Gun” and clearly fell flat at the box office, fans of the two Tom Cruise hits should watch Andrew’s film, which available on Disney+, check it out. Don’t miss Davis (“On the Run”). Because here too all elements of “Top Gun” and “Top Gun 2” are discussed.
That’s what “Every Second Counts – The Guardian” is about
Lifeguard legend Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) is shaken by a traumatic experience: not only has his wife Helen (Sela Ward) left, but he also loses his entire crew in a catastrophic operation. His boss and friend Frank Larson (John Heard) forces him to take time off and teach at “A” School, the Coast Guard’s premier training school for juniors.
Although Randall doesn’t like it at all, he has no choice and goes to Kodiac, Alaska to start his new job. His teaching style is unconventional and exclusively hands-on, which does not necessarily make him popular with his colleagues. Out of the group of 22 young men and women, top swimmer Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) stands out, but Randall is extremely skeptical about the young man…
“Top Gun 2” with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher?!
Although, of course, “Top Gun 2” only appeared 16 years after “Every Second Counts – The Guardian”, you can see the similarity of the two films by looking at the starting positions at first glance. While Maverick (Tom Cruise) receives a disciplinary transfer and must work as a teacher at his old training school, Randall is not happy to return to the place where his fast-paced career began. Like Maverick, Randall is at the top of his game, setting record after record and saving countless lives, though his methods are often questionable.
Ashton Kutcher’s Jake Fischer takes on the role of Rooster (Miles Teller), with whom Randall often takes a tougher stance simply because he sees the boy’s potential (thereby paving the way for his rightful successor – similar to what happens with Maverick and Rooster). The focus of the story isn’t just the interpersonal mentor-apprentice dynamic between the two alpha males.
A song of heroism
Although the training here is considerably tougher than in the first “Top Gun”, director Andrew Davis constantly gives the viewer the feeling that nothing is more honorable and wonderful than serving in the US Coast Guard. After all, this one is only used when all others have failed!
Those who were already annoyed by the bland praise in “Top Gun”, which was geared not only to militarism but also to the classic image of the unbreakable hero, will also have problems with “Every Second Counts – The Guardian”. . Especially the last 15 minutes pure, unfiltered, dripping pathoswhich unnecessarily rolls out a truly gripping finale.
But beyond that, genre veteran Andrew Davis proves himself to be a talented craftsman. The high seas rescue sequences are powerful and almost create a kind of humility in the face of the elemental forces of nature. As usual, Kevin Costner can score with a lot of charisma, while Ashton Kutcher unfortunately remains hit and miss. The dynamic between Tom Cruise and Miles Teller erupts on a whole other level, if only because of the acting skills.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for movies much like Top Gun, you should definitely check out The Guardian on Disney Plus subscription.