Jeff Lubeck

Hustle is an engaging film. At its core, Hustle is all about attempting to work through or around each and every obstacle placed in life’s path.  As in life, a bit of hustle can, but not always, assist in achieving the desired result.

Starring Adam Sandler, Hustle presents a close-up look at the journey of a few souls.  Hustle is also a film covered with an extensive wrapping of high level basketball and its associated celebrity.  This aspect works to a degree.

If you like Adam Sandler and basketball, Hustle will without question be a feel-good winner that offers a solid blend of realism and Fanboy fantasy.  The Fanboy elements will require the adoption of certain level of suspended disbelief – but no more so than any other film with a sports storyline.

However, it is the onscreen chemistry and acting skills of Hustle’s Leads (Sandler, Queen Latifah, Juancho Hernangomez, and Jordan Hull) that take Hustle to easy victory.

If you are a movie goer and fan of Suspended Disbelief, Top Gun: Maverick is as good a film as Hollywood U.S.A. can deliver.  If you are a persona of this ilk and have not seen the movie, go as soon as is possible, and watch it in a movie theatre with as big as a screen as possible. 

If you see the film on the Big Screen and leave the current day world behind, I would bet good money you will experience Self Actualization sometime during its 2+ hour run-time. I will be honest.  I did, early, and often.  It should be revealed, I was on a virtual conference call with Maslow earlier today and he said the movie, “brought him to tears.” 

So we are clear… Top Gun: Maverick is not a Documentary or a film based on “real life events.”  It is a film of total and complete fiction with the very, very best of character acting, and production values applied throughout.

Is the film, exciting, thrilling, sappy, predictable, unpredictable, heart warming, fun, and rewarding for the viewer?  You bet!

Note to advocates of Computer Graphic Imagery (CGI): Top Gun Maverick: I am told, employs no CGI for the aeronautics scenes.  This aspect is wonderful to experience.