‘The Accountant 2’ review: Ben Affleck and returns with a wonkily winning formula

Dir: Gavin O’Connor. US. 2025. 125mins 

The environment friendly, uneven sequel The Accountant 2 introduces an endearing buddy-comedy ingredient to this action-thriller franchise, discovering Ben Affleck’s autistic accountant and Jon Bernthal’s cruel killer placing apart their variations to battle a brand new crop of unhealthy guys. The 2016 authentic had its share of ludicrous parts — chief amongst them was the truth that its insular title character occurred to be a whiz with arithmetic in addition to fight — however the follow-up neatly leans into the absurdity, making this second chapter a extra pleasurable experience with out succumbing to self-parody. 

A B-movie purity

Premiering at SXSW, the image opens within the UK and US on April 25. (Warner Bros. oversees the worldwide rollout, whereas Amazon MGM Studios will deal with US distribution.) The Accountant grossed $156 million worldwide — a formidable tally for a modestly-budgeted actioner — and little doubt the filmmakers hope audiences have been ready for an additional chapter. Unique star Anna Kendrick doesn’t return, setting the stage for Affleck and Bernthal to take centre stage enjoying estranged brothers searching for to restore their frayed relationship. 

As The Accountant 2 begins, forensic accountant Chris (Affleck) is summoned by US Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) to research why her retired former boss, Raymond King (J.Ok. Simmons), was gunned down in Los Angeles. Recruiting his brother Brax (Bernthal), with whom he has not spoken because the occasions of The Accountant, Chris believes King was on the lookout for lacking members of a Mexican household — and that their whereabouts are linked to a nefarious felony operation.

The Accountant explored the make-up of its protagonist, who has issue making connections with others however is a superb problem-solver. That movie, additionally directed by Gavin O’Connor and written by Ozark co-creator Invoice Dubuque, recounted Chris’ painful childhood by which he and his brother had been raised by a brutally strict army father — explaining how Chris discovered to be an skilled marksman and soldier past having an inherent ability for numbers. Ludicrous and convoluted, The Accountant was diverting, disposable leisure elevated by Affleck’s consciously withdrawn efficiency.

Maybe correctly, the sequel appears much less keen on Chris’ situation or his backstory, as an alternative exploiting the rapport between Affleck and Bernthal, who make for an agreeable comedian duo. Whereas Chris is reserved and monotone, the cocky Brax makes snarky asides, always teasing his brother about his uptight method. However Affleck will get his share of digs in as nicely — though Chris is probably not as outgoing as Brax, his potential to unleash a deadpan retort makes The Accountant 2 a funnier movie than its predecessor.

Such a story technique has its downsides, nevertheless. As a lot as this sequel needs to talk out concerning the plight of migrants coming to America, these sombre issues are undercut by Affleck and Bernthal’s odd-couple repartee. Moreover, The Accountant 2 expands on the unique’s late-reel shock of the id of Chris’ all-knowing handler, giving him a complete staff of autistic younger tech geniuses able to hacking into any pc on this planet.

Too typically, this franchise can belittle autism by making it appear to be a superpower, and Chris’ tech staff is performed for laughs in methods that may be uncomfortable. (Add to that, Medina, fairly moderately, complains that what Chris’ staff is doing is illegitimate and unconstitutional — issues which can be largely met with a shrug by the filmmakers.)  What retains The Accountant 2 rocketing ahead is O’Connor’s rising ability with motion sequences, combined with quieter scenes when Chris and Brax let down their guard round each other. 

In reality, the central thriller, which permits Chris to point out off his ingenious thoughts, is the movie’s weak hyperlink, introducing a bland murderer, Anais (Daniella Pineda), who’s given loads of display time to little impact. However every time the movie begins to lose momentum, Chris and Brax’s fight prowess returns to the fore. There’s a B-movie purity to how this franchise conducts its enterprise, eschewing the flash of contemporary blockbusters for a extra pummelling, elemental method to its shootouts and hand-to-hand struggle scenes. On high of that, The Accountant 2 has added a successful sense of humour to the equation.