Ben Affleck’s autistic assassin makes a stylish comeback in Gavin O’Connor’s worthwhile sequel, co-starring J.K. Simmons, Daniella Pineda, and Jon Bernthal.
ACTION-THRILLERS HAVEN’T always been kind to Ben Affleck. Hypnotic was a flop, The Flash ended a cinematic universe, yet the loveable face of Dunkin’ Donuts always seems to land on his feet.
Now, Affleck returns as Christian Wolff, the neurodivergent accountant-come-hitman, in a solid, humour-first sequel that outstrips its predecessor at every turn – action has been kicked up a notch, so to is the comedy department is a stand out.
While investigating a missing mother and son, retired Treasury Agent Raymond King (J.K. Simmons) is gunned down by unknown assassins, a last-ditch message scrawled on his arm: find the accountant.
Since we last saw him, Christian Wolff aka The Accountant still lives in a cramped Airstream travel trailer, favours fry ups for dinner, and maintains a budding career as an international hitman. It’s a simple life.
But, his status quo is thrown into chaos when Agent Medina (Cynthia Adlai-Robinson), calls upon his services to track down King’s assassins. “Do you like puzzles?”, she asks him. This is all the invitation Wolff needs to get on board.
As action-thrillers go, it’s all very by the numbers. The Accountant didn’t try to reinvent the wheel, and the same goes for round two – its best hand isn’t in the narrative, but Wolff himself.
He has a unique charm and wide-eyed likeability — his attempts at blind dating and line dancing are standouts in an otherwise bullet-laden film. As a critic with autism, it’s a step in the right direction for representation, though casting an autistic actor wouldn’t hurt.
As the case expands, Wolff is forced to recruit his volatile brother, Braxton (an ice cream eating, lollipop sucking Jon Bernthal), to lend his signature brand of mayhem to proceedings.
Bernthal is on top form, his Labrador-like energy given free rein amidst shootouts and family squabbles. His testy dynamic with Affleck is the film’s bedrock, the action and humour woven around their cranky kinship.
There’s an old-timey simplicity to The Accountant 2. While the narrative can be overcomplicated, the bones are rather simple. If you’re in the mood for rounds upon rounds of gunfire mixed with a strong emotional core, it’s the flick for you.
The Accountant 2 is in cinemas now.
