Val Kilmer Was Even Great Parodying Himself on ‘SNL’

by

As a die-hard admirer, I’d say it’s no secret that the legendary Val Kilmer immersed himself so deeply in his characters that they seemed indistinguishable from him. Yet, this masterful method of acting didn’t make him overly self-important; he always kept a sense of humor and humility about himself.

Despite the fact that my most cherished role of Kilmer’s will always be his portrayal of Doc Holliday in Tombstone, it is likely that the general public will instead recall him as “Iceman” from Top Gun. (A mention here of his remarkable performance as Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors, and a brief nod to his stint as Batman in the 1995 movie Batman Forever.) It’s important to note that Kilmer was outstanding in Top Gun, and he left us breathless with a touching comeback for Top Gun: Maverick.

(I tried to maintain the original flow and structure while making it easier to read and understand.)

When the sequel to Top Gun eventually premiered, it had been delayed due to COVID-related issues, as Tom Cruise opted for a theatrical release instead. At this point, Val Kilmer was heavily engaged in his fight against throat cancer. Portraying the audacious Naval aviator demanded the courage of a true fighter pilot. I attended the initial screening of Top Gun: Maverick at CinemaCon 2022, and when Cruise’s character, Maverick, paid a visit to Ice (Kilmer) at his residence, the Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace became noticeably moist with emotion.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to say that experiencing Top Gun: Maverick in theaters was like leveling up to an epic boss battle. It wasn’t just about breaking box-office records, it was about reviving the thrill of cinema at a time when streaming and simultaneous releases were dominating the scene. Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer’s performances were like unlocking hidden characters in a game – their presence was crucial to the success of this blockbuster.

Not just the 1986 film and its 2022 sequel were Kilmer’s only appearances as the character. During his hosting gig for Saturday Night Live on December 9, 2020, Kilmer donned Iceman’s sunglasses again, this time using two pairs for a humorous touch. For this particular show, Kilmer portrayed the character approximately 15 years after his Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI) tenure, more commonly known as Top Gun. This middle-aged Iceman character was a 727 commercial-airliner captain, retaining his usual overconfidence and causing quite a nuisance to his flight crew.

Kilmer played the role of Iceman not only in the original film and its sequel, but also during his hosting stint on Saturday Night Live in 2020. In this appearance, he portrayed a middle-aged version of Iceman who was now a commercial airline pilot, still full of swagger and annoying his fellow crew members.

In the skit, Kilmer deemed Chris Parnell, Will Ferrell, and Ana Gasteyer as “troublesome,” similar to how he saw Mav in the Paramount classic. Captain Tom “Iceman” Kazansky often expressed his feelings towards them, which grew tiresome for his crew – the co-pilot, navigator, and flight attendant. They became increasingly frustrated not only with his sentiments but also his stories, such as the one where Captain Kazansky claimed he had taken a 727 up to Mach 3 speed. Parnell swiftly challenged this claim, causing Kilmer to modify his exaggerated tale.

As a gamer, I can relate. When I’m deeply engrossed in a high-stakes match, there’s barely any room for thought – it’s act or be eliminated. Exactly like Kilmer described with his Mach 3 razor, you’re too focused on the game to even think about anything else.

Iceman was sort of humbled, but really not — just like in the movie.

After showing some clips of commercial planes and airports (particularly focusing on luggage claim areas), Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” plays as a backdrop. Kilmer identifies an unknown aircraft outside, but Parnell corrects him, explaining that they are merely preparing to move, and the suspected threat is actually the flight departing at 9:35 from Tampa.

Nevertheless, Iceman’s situation worsens significantly, leading him to announce that the aircraft is “in a 4G negative dive,” a move reminiscent of a scene from the movie, though it’s essential to note that such a maneuver is not physically possible in a fighter jet, let alone a passenger plane.

“It’s too close to missiles, gonna switch to guns,” the callbacks continue.

Captain Kazanski is letting you know that the film we’ll be showing on this flight is ‘Duets,’ featuring Huey Lewis, as confirmed by Parnell,” ensures the passengers.

After reaching Flagstaff, Ferrell and Parnell had grown tired of Iceman, but their sentiment wasn’t entirely reciprocated. “How about we head to our hotel room, take a shower, dry off, and then play some volleyball?” Kilmer proposed to his comrades.

Instead of experiencing a scenario reminiscent of the “Playing with the Boys” song from Top Gun, it means that we won’t be receiving a pass from them, so no such situation will occur.

Kilmer died on Tuesday. He was 65.

Watch the sketch, below.

@huggyattack

Replying to @dana.xu

♬ original sound – Huggy

Read More

2025-04-02 18:55