Devotion Review – Welcome to the Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell Show

Over the years, films depicting wars have come in various shapes and forms. While some highlighted the magnitude of destruction that a battlefield can leave, others revealed the effects it had on the people who fought valiantly.

Similarly, on one hand, we see films that adopt the action route, which goes for style over substance. A recent example of that was the Tom Cruise-starrer Top Gun: Maverick, which took fans’ breaths away with its high-octane aerial action.

However, J. D. Dillard takes a different approach with his war biopic, Devotion. Starring Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell in lead roles. The film is based on the novel Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice, which follows the bond formed between two naval officers in Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors) and Tom Hudner (Glen Powell) during the Korean War.

It’s fair to compare Devotion to the Top Gun sequel despite its major differences, as they’re both based on the relationships formed during battle, especially in the air. While the Jospeh Kosinski-directed film had you on the edge of your seat during aerial sequences, Dilllard takes a much slower pace to exhibit the moments between action.

One of the major elements of the story revolves around the discrimination faced by Majors’s character. As the first African American naval officer, Jesse Brown hasn’t had the easiest path to the cockpit of a fighter jet. In several scenes of Devotion, the film hits hard to portray how Brown faces racism in varying degrees. From suspecting neighbors to his peers that he went to war with, the now-legendary aviator had to overcome a lot.

Another aspect of this storyline touches upon Brown’s methods of handling the discrimination that he faces. A large part of the film shines during the conversations between the characters of Majors and Powell, and how their relationship grows from colleagues to aerial buddies.

The camaraderie between the two naval pilots grew as the Korean War became much more tense. While the first few scenes lay out the carpets for exposition, the film soon hits the battlefield, as fighter planes soon begin its assault to help soldiers on the ground. While the film has its fair share of visually stunning aerial battles, no one would confuse them to be as mesmerizing as the ones we saw involving Tom Cruise’s Maverick and his crew of Naval aviators. However, Devotion’s big USP isn’t the action during Korean War, it’s the moments between the action when the characters interact with each other.

The best moments of Devotion features both Majors and Powell, who share great chemistry. The former hits massive strides in his portrayal of Jesse Brown and the experiences he faced over the years on his way to become the first African American naval pilot. Majors showcases why he’s one of the most sought-after stars in Hollywood, as he cuts deep to exhibit the pain that his character faces. Similarly, following a breakthrough performance as Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick, Powell finds himself in the same world, and he doesn’t disappoint as Tom Hudner. He makes his presence felt even in scenes where Majors steals the show.

When it comes to the supporting cast, Christina Jackson plays quite well as Jesse Brown’s wife, Daisy. Similarly, Brown and Hudner’s crew also features other decently portrayed naval pilots by the likes of musician Joe Jonas, Thomas Sadoski, Daren Kagasoff and more. Serinda Swan also has a memorable performance as yesteryear actor Elizabeth Taylor.

It’s safe to say that J.D. Dillard’s Devotion feels much more like a buddy movie rather than a war biopic, which isn’t a bad thing. While the action isn’t off-putting, it’s the film’s emotional beats that tug the heartstrings of the viewers. While you may have bought a ticket to see upside-down fighter jets in Top Gun: Maverick, with Devotion you will make your way to the nearest cinema screen to see why Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell will play all your favorite characters in the coming years.

Editor’s Note: The team at PVR Pictures provided early screeners to IGN India before the public.