Ditching the more serious vibe that came with 2016s action-thriller The Accountant, Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, writer Bill Dubuque and director Gavin O’Connor have reunited to continue the story of Christian Wolff (Affleck), an autistic accountant who has a knack for being an action hero, who in this sequel must team up with his hitman brother, Braxton (Bernthal), after the death of a friend uncovers a web of conspiracy that puts a target on everyone’s back.
While there were definitely elements of The Accountant that were fun, particularly the interactions Christian has with people around him and the explosive action, there was a seriousness that overshadowed the heightened premise that dampened some of the enjoyment. However, The Accountant 2 and the filmmakers behind this sequel seemed fully aware of these criticisms and are now wearing that self-awareness right on their sleeves by leaning into a buddy-cop style narrative that allows the highly entertaining chemistry between Affleck and Bernthal to shine, without losing the sincerity of portraying a character who is on the autism spectrum.
“infectiously joyous banter and chemistry “
There is a sensitivity that comes from Affleck’s portrayal of Christian, and there is something to be celebrated about how Christian’s autism is never used as the punchline of a joke or “weaponised” as a power he has, but the narrative showcases how would someone on the spectrum have to navigate a life in a criminal underworld, which is interesting. But it also navigates what the experience is like, from both angles of having and being a sibling on the spectrum.
There is so much entertaining joy that stems from the interactions between Christian and Braxton, were the brotherly banter is never hindered by the social aspects of autism but rather bring what seems like an authentic comedy to their dysfunctional relationship. And while the jokes land strong, a lot of the joy is found in a sincere care that each brother has for each other, which is solidified by a certain plot development that leads to the final shootout.
On the action front, the technical mercenary stylings featuring precision gunfights, brutal fist fights and a manic bar shootout showcases how director Gavin O’Connor can integrate a lot of feeling and character motive into explosive set pieces. A lot of the violence in The Accountant 2 is fuelled by character driven emotion, which ups the stakes in a way that feels far more engaging than other generic action outings.
Narratively, there are similarities, for better and worse, between both films. The investigation that Christian endeavours on doesn’t stray to far technically from the first film. It’s a lot of the same style, different skin. There is a solid formula that the story sticks too, and it feels more in service of the film’s strengths, which are the chemistry of the Affleck and Bernthal, and the action.
The Accountant 2 is far more entertaining outing that it’s predecessor, thanks to the infectiously joyous banter and chemistry between Affleck and Bernthal, and some explosive action scenes. While it doesn’t stray too far from a generic investigative plot, there is enough fun to be had that it’s hard to deny its enjoyment factor is high.
The Accountant 2 is in cinemas now.
