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)

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!

I really enjoyed the first 'The Accountant' so had high expectations for the follow up.

Sadly, I was very dissappointed.

The first film had some logic, it made sense, it had a story. So made the all action nonsense plausible and therefore excusable as 'artistic license.

The Accountant 2 is all action nonsense.

It makes very little sense. Very weak on story and logic i.e. Not believable for the audience to invest in it.

E.g. Why would Ray King in retirement, spend all his money 'investigating' alone and particularly for one child ?

Why would Chris (Affleck) reveal his computer help source (Justine) and her location so glibly.

It was absurd how the woman assassin was supposed to be the woman in the picture, It was also absurd how she was more like a terminator than a person.

And there are many more such issues, that prevent the story from flowing logically and therefore immersing the audience in a journey.

Instead you are repeatedly 'jolted' out, asking what? Why? When? Sort of questions, which don't have answers.

Ben Affleck is looking a bit aged and gaunt, but he and the guy who plays Braxton , played their parts compentently, but were let down by the weak script.

It does have some laughs, It's not terrible, just very mediocre, certainly nowhere near as good as the first film.

Would I watch this again ? No, it's too glib and lacks cohesion.

Yet, I have watched the first film several times and I will watch it again.

Very dissappointed and I felt this was a missed opportunity.

Not worth a full price cinema ticket.

I really like The Accountant. It dared to change the action movie lead role with an autistic character, providing a very interesting role. How would the combination of strengths and weaknesses that The Accountant's condition play out in the dangerous world of international criminals and hitmen?

It was this combination of obsessive/compulsive need for order and completion, combined with an inability to empathise or understand social interactions, that made Affleck's character, Christian Wolff, so interesting.

In the sequel, the writing is not as focused on Affleck in the same way. Instead the focus is on the relationship between him and his brother (Bernthal). While well acted, this simply does not have the same appeal. The movie shines when Wolff's neurodivergence is front and centre, but otherwise it feels like any other generic action-thriller (albeit a well-done one).

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!