'The Accountant 2' Review: An Wildly Different and Entertaining Sequel
After nine years, Christian Wolff has made his long-awaited return to the silver screen in The Accountant 2, a wildly different sequel that should not only please fans of the original, but the uninitiated as well.
Taking place nearly a decade after the events of the first film, The Accountant 2 once again focuses on accountant Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) who is called in by Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) to solve and unravel the mystery surrounding the murder of her mentor and former boss Ray King (J.K. Simmons). Wolff agrees to help and recruits his brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal) to aid in the investigation, the two siblings bonding as the mystery becomes more and more complex. Fortunately for fans of the original film, this is not a case of diminishing returns.
Not only do Affleck and Bernthal reprise to their respective roles here, but director Gavin O’ Connor and writer Bill Dubuque have also returned to the fold here. As a result, the vision for this sequel feels clear, confident, and radically different in the best way possible. While the first film was far more of an action thriller with some comedic elements, the sequel is essentially the opposite, registering as a buddy action comedy with some thriller elements. Though it takes a beat to acclimate to the new tone and feel of this follow-up, this is a sequel that leans far more into the humor and more importantly the dynamic between Christian and Braxton, the latter becoming the heart and soul of the film in addition to being the true highlight.
The reveal of Christian and Braxton being brothers in the climax of the original film was not only deftly handled, but a wonderfully surprising reveal, showcasing a terrific chemistry between Bernthal and Affleck. The sequel doubles down on their dynamic and has them teaming up, delivering an incredibly entertaining relationship that never fails to engage. Affleck and Bernthal have electric chemistry here, bringing out the best in one another as the two explore the offbeat, slightly estranged nature of these two characters. The best scenes in the film involve the two catching up and slowly becoming vulnerable with each other as they inevitably continue to bond and get closer. It also doesn’t hurt that the action scenes involving the pair don’t remotely disappoint.
While the first film delivered some fun action sequences, the sequel not only provides more, but also set pieces that feel far more visceral and gritty. O’Connor is no stranger to action sequences, but he’s never felt more confident behind the camera, not only giving audiences the popcorn entertainment they’re looking for, but never losing sight of the characters throughout. This is a sequel that wisely puts character first, allowing the audience to see new sides of Christian, Braxton, and even Medina who is struggling to embrace her new leadership position due to her imposter syndrome following the events of the first film that put her in that position. Dubuque’s writing remains sharp and unpredictable, not only fleshing out these characters effectively, but providing a significant amount of laughs in the process, especially during the scenes in which the two brothers begin to bond, a trip to a local bar becoming a true standout.
However, like the first film, the central mystery is easily the least interesting part of the experience. Though the catalyst of King being murdered was an intriguing start, the film never follows through on the potential of that mystery effectively, resulting in a story that feel muddled, cliche, and ultimately very boring. When the film shifts gears to focusing on that mystery and more specifically Medina’s character, that’s when the momentum comes to a screeching halt. The sequel introduces a new mysterious and villainous hit woman as well, but the trajectory of the character never goes anywhere particularly compelling. The attempt to flesh out her character was notable and appreciated, but the character barely registered as three-dimensional regardless. Also, speaking of Medina, she remains a very bland character. This is not due to Robinson’s performances, but rather the lackluster writing of the character in now both these films.
The Accountant 2 may not be as strong as its predecessor, but it’s still a very worthwhile sequel that explores these characters more deeply in addition to providing some serious entertainment value and laughs. This easily could’ve been a phoned-in, underwhelming follow-up, but if this second installment proves anything it’s that there is plenty of juice that can be wrung out of these characters and plenty more mysteries Wolff can solve with his dry, offbeat charm and special set of skills. Let’s just hope that if there’s a third film fans won’t have to wait nearly as long to watch Christian do what he does best.