Nearly a decade after its original release, The Accountant gets an unexpected makeover with a lighter, faster-paced sequel starring Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal The Snapshot: In an unusual move for crime dramas, MGM's The Accountant series gets an improved sequel that trades brooding tension for high-energy action and humour. The Accountant 2 6 out of 10 14A, 2hrs 12mins. Action Crime Drama.
Directed by Gavin O’Connor. Starring Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Daniella Pineda and Robert Morgan. Now playing at https://www.cineplex.com/theatre/silvercity-burlington-cinemas.
Not many crime dramas are known to get sequels coming to the theatres – and it’s rarer still they come out almost a decade later. But what’s most unusual about The Accountant 2, Ben Affleck’s follow-up crime caper to the 2016 original, is that the sequel is both dramatically different and more entertaining than the first. Director Gavin O’Connor returns after working on The Accountant nine years ago, but after the first film’s lukewarm reception, O’Connor called for a drastic change in tone for the sequel.
The first film was a gritty drama and character study, whereas the sequel is a more buoyant and almost comedic action thriller. The first film, for the many who may not know, told the story of an autistic accountant named Christian Wolff (Affleck), working on a corporate mystery while moonlighting in financial services for mob leaders and black market bad guys. Read more here: Best in streaming this week: The Accountant The sequel finds him now a fugitive, but called back to fight for the U.S. government in a financial crimes mystery they can’t crack.
What makes Accountant 2 so different in tone is half of the characters haven’t come back. Instead the small role of Christian’s hitman brother Braxton, expertly played by tough guy Jon Bernthal, has been promoted to co-starring status. This means the film’s key relationship is the squabbling of two polar opposite brothers, both with criminal records, putting aside their very different worldviews to work together and solve the case.
Affleck and Bernthal have outstanding chemistry, and their commitment to playing the extreme opposites of each brother (one the brains, one the brawn) is ripe with conflict to enhance the plot’s focal mystery: how will they handle each new encounter? Many of the new supporting characters are also fascinating, especially Daniella Pineda’s scene-stealing turn as a myserteous assassin. Sadly, the absence of Wolff’s feet friends from the first film, especially Anna Kendrick, is noticeable, and J. K. Simmons’ Ray comes back only in a glorified cameo.
And as talented as Affleck is as an actor, he’s still inconsistently effective in portraying autism on screen. Autism is a broad spectrum, yes, and he’s skilled at showcasing Christian’s unique way of thinking. But it’s a bit uncomfortable watching him in social scenes trying to solve the puzzle of how to interact with other people.
Sure, The Accountant 2 is still a bit problematic with it’s central character and takes too long to tell it’s story. But O’Connor’s re-direct in shaping what this action franchise hopeful wants to be has paired his film-making skill with a key entertaining elements that make The Accountant’s future bank statements look extremely promising.
