[Tony in Hawaii]

To be fair, Tom “Viper” Skerritt was 53 years old in 1986 when the original movie came out.

[rktman]

I always liked Skerrit’s acting.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"To be fair, Tom “Viper” Skerritt was 53 years old in 1986 when the original movie came out."

But he wasn't playing a 53 year old in the movie. He was most likely supposed to be in his early 40s which would be fine for a Commander. That's what he played in the movie. Because the first movie came out in 1986, they can't get around the fact of Cruises age.