Reel Review: The Accountant 2 Adds Up
The Accountant hit theaters in 2016 and the aftermath was a slew of mixed reviews, leaving a wide range of those who praised it, and others left disappointed. When a sequel was announced, the mixed reactions quickly resurfaced. I was in the ‘disappointed’ crowd, but, with its leading duo being the ever so charming Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal, I had to see the second one, and I’m happy to announce, I left praising its wit, hilarity, and action. It’s hard for a sequel to outdo its predecessor, but The Accountant 2 accomplished just that.
What makes this sequel great is that it stands on its own, allowing new audiences to enjoy the film without having seen the original. To catch you up though, Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has a talent for solving complex problems. When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to “find the accountant,” Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to help. In partnership with U.S. Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.
It’s funny—Ben Affleck is one of those actors you never quite get used to, which makes his performances consistently surprising. His often-publicized, gruff public persona stands in stark contrast to the characters he plays—and he plays them well. His nuanced performance in The Accountant 2 is no different. I didn’t see the popular Ben Affleck on screen, I saw the witty, determined Christian Wolff. His performance captivated me so much so that it made me nostalgic for a character I didn’t even love the first time around.
This second installment felt like a major departure from the first. Action movies, in my humble opinion, often struggle to weave in genuinely good humor—the kind that makes you laugh, root for the characters, and actually relate to them. But Affleck’s on-screen chemistry with Jon Bernthal’s character, Brax, nailed it. It felt like watching a real sibling dynamic. You know when actors just get it? Yeah, Affleck and Bernthal got it.
A new action movie means we’re introduced to a new villain, and I’ve got to say, the villain arc (I’m not spoiling who it was!) was one that was deeply moving and one that I had sympathy for, adding another layer to this unexpectedly impactful film. I can’t promise much, but one thing I can promise is that you will leave The Accountant 2 with expectations exceeded, and maybe possibly a tear in your eye (no, really, I teared up a bit).
The Accountant 2 hits theaters this Friday, April 25.
