The Accountant 2

I saw an early screening of The Accountant 2. I went in with tempered expectations because a sequel after 9 years feels like a cash grab. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie for the entire runtime.

The selective action moments are just as hard-hitting. The characters are just as unique and enjoyable. The character dynamics may even surpass the original. And there are just as many story threads that reach satisfying conclusions. You can tell they put effort and care into this sequel.

The comedy, though?!?! There were some funny moments in the first one. But in the sequel, I laughed out loud so many times, to the point I would list "comedy" as a subgenre. And it's not "insert joke here"-type humor. It's organic to the story and characters.

I would say I still like the original a tiny bit better, especially with the originality and overall story. But with the comedy in the sequel, I scored them both the same. I was extremely satisfied leaving the cinema.

(1 viewing, early screening Super EMX 4/15/2025)

Finally a sequel that is as good, or better, than the 1st. Hope they make a 3rd. They left a possible story line open that I could see being similar to the last John Wick. That's just me and my imagination. It could be a complete action movie from start to finish.

This was one of the best movies we've seen this year. Great character building off of the first movie. Has quite a few heart felt moments, some unexpected comedy, and a lot of action. The chemistry between the brothers seems genuine, not forced or acted.

Glad they were able to get the same director and cast.

A must see for 2025. Would see again in the theater.

Okay. "The Accountant 2" is one of the year's biggest surprises and one of 2025's best movies.

First, it's funny that it took almost the entire time Ben Affleck spent playing Batman for this sequel to come out. I thought I'd mention that. Affleck reprises Christian Wolff as if 2016 happened yesterday. Wolff is a man of ingenuity and dry wit, which Affleck emulates with gravitas.

It helps that this time, he teams up with his brother Brax, delightfully played by Jon Bernthal. Although they both play off each other incredibly well, Bernthal managed to outshine his brother pretty often. What can I say? He stole the show in the first installment and stole more of the spotlight here.

Before moving on, I should mention how I feel about the prior entry into this franchise. I liked it, but it has confusing stuff that takes me out of it. Also, I don't think Anna Kendrick's character worked for its story. Would you believe me if I said that this nine-years-later sequel has none of the issues I had with the original? I'm blown away by how well Bill Dubuque's screenplay improves and enhances this universe. Even when thinking about a potential plot hole, by the end, I remember a detail from earlier that explains it away. Nothing here perplexed or took me out of the movie, as I was always invested and intrigued. Additionally, I laughed a lot, something I don't think I could say about the original. The first didn't include much humor, but this one has many comedic elements that unexpectedly worked.

For the rest of the positives, a returning Gavin O'Connor did a solid directing job, and even though Affleck and Bernthal are the highlights, the rest of the cast performed nicely. The action was fantastic (I'd recommend seeing it in a Dolby Cinema), Seamus McGarvey's cinematography was exceptional, many outstanding scenes outside the action and comedy were present, and the 2-hour and 3-minute runtime didn't drag.

"The Accountant 2" blew me away. There was the potential for it to be superior to its predecessor, but it went beyond that by making for a wildly fun time at the movies.

Technically, the acting, directing, screenplay, and cinematography make the technical score a 10/10.

The enjoyment score: I felt the first was an 8/10, but the contrast between that and this sequel's quality is vast in the best ways possible. 10/10! It's not a years-later sequel for the sake of making one. It's a years-later sequel made to expand an immersive world richly. If you're a fan of the original, I have no doubt you'll see this follow-up, but if not, give it a chance! For my money, it's a must-watch!

7/10. The Accountant 2 serves as a worthy sequel. Leaning more into brotherly banter, tighter action, and plays into a lighter and humorous tone.

The plot and character arcs, much like the first, leave a lot to be desired. The story isn't as convoluted as the first but still gets murky. The villains are one dimensional, generic, and quite forgettable. Sadly, Anna Kendrick doesn't return.

The film heavily relies on bringing Jon Bernthal into a bigger role and it works. His strained relationship and funny lines with Affleck are the heart of the movie. Crazy stuff always happens when Bernthal and Affleck show up. Their actions scenes are fun to watch. They are brothers who are trying to get along and get past their messed up childhood trauma. This results in the humor being less dry; for better or worse.

Ben Affleck again does a splendid job in his role as a Aspergers man with his different tics and mannerisms. He is smart, nerdy, and a killing machine. Yes, the Hollywood portrayal of Asperger's is kind of cliché for the sake of the plot. Not all of us are genius computer hackers. Or killers for that matter. But the film did a respectable job with depicting the thinking, psyche, and social struggles on a personal level.

I think Ben got the weirdness down well by being around Matt Damon for too long. Haha, just kidding Matt, you're great. In the one trillion chance you read this, please don't be mad.

Thank you, Regal Cinemas, for showing this early on Tax Day. No, I didn't see this at a film festival but that would have been awesome. (Hint, hint). Ben Affleck awkwardly line dancing was very hilarious. Kudos to suggesting the band play a Metallica song.

This was the one film I wanted to see the most at SXSW and I was lucky enough to see the world premier and left more than pleased. Jon Bernthal really explodes on screen and you can feel the joy he gets from pushing his brothers buttons in the most entertaining way possible. These two have real, believable chemistry and brought something both familiar and unexpected while delivering a story that isn't the same ole buddy trope the way other films seem to struggle. Jon's comic relief blends perfectly with Ben's robotic, emotionlessness. It feels like anything can and will happen at any moment...and it does! I hope we see these two characters together again sooner than later!