Time: 132 Minutes
Age Rating: R16– Bloody violence, cruelty & offensive language
Cast:
Ben Affleck as Christian Wolff/ The Accountant
Jon Bernthal as Braxton Wolff
Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Marybeth Medina
Daniella Pineda as Anaïs
J. K. Simmons as Raymond King
Director: Gavin O’Connor

I enjoyed The Accountant back in 2016, it was a solid thriller and while it definitely plays on outdated autism tropes, it was enjoyable, well directed and especially benefitted from a great lead performance from Ben Affleck. I was looking forward to the announced sequel, but it had been in development for so long that I assumed that it would never happen. Surprisingly, it’s here, releasing 9 years after the original, with most of the main cast and director Gavin O’Connor returning, and it actually turned out to be pretty good.

The plot itself is pretty messy and generic, recycling similar action plot beats and tropes with cartels and human trafficking, as well as even more tropes of autistic people being superhuman geniuses. It felt more thinly constructed than the last movie, like the sequel is least interested in the actual plot. Still, it is definitely a more fun movie to watch. If you watched the sequel soon after watching the original, by the time you get to the speed dating scene, you probably notice that there has been a notable tonal shift. It tones down the darker tone and is less a grounded slow burn thriller, and instead is more of a goofy buddy comedy (surprisingly it doesn’t feature any actual accounting). It is definitely a more ridiculous movie but perhaps it’s better for that. Yes, it does have the superhuman autism stuff but embraces it in a way that is more self aware. It is also far more humorous, especially when it comes to the dynamic between Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal, which also manages to be endearing and heartfelt.

Ben Affleck returns as The Accountant, Christian Wolfe, and Jon Bernthal also returns, this time in a co-lead role. The brotherly dynamic between them is really good, and they share great comedic banter and chemistry. It’s great even just watching them interact with each other. There’s a good supporting cast with Cynthia Addai Robinson and J.K. Simmons reprising their roles from the last movie, and with the addition of Daniella Pineda.

Gavin O’Connor returns as director and as expected his work is solid. On a visual level it definitely feels like a step down compared to the last movie, but it is still well shot and edited. The action feels largely reduced, but it ramps up in the third act and is very entertaining when present.

The Accountant 2 is a solid and entertaining action thriller and surprisingly different and more comedic sequel. It’s well directed, and Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal are great. Apparently they are working on a third movie and I’m already looking forward to it.