The Accountant 2 is one of the best action films this year. Mainly because it is more than just action. It is about family, loyalty, bending the rules, and at the end of the day; taking out bad guys.
Synopsis: Christian Wolff applies his brilliant mind and illegal methods to reconstruct the unsolved puzzle of a Treasury chief’s murder. | 2h 4m | Rated R for strong violence, and language throughout.
Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is back eight years after his fracas in Chicago. He has spent that time doing what we can only assume is crunching numbers, and if needed, crunching other things as well. When retired Treasury Chief Ray King (J.K. Simmons) gets involved with some unsavory traffickers, Wolff and current Chief Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) have to try and solve a case with very little clues. Wolff asks his brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal) to help out. Now that the gang is back together the fun can begin.
Wolff is such a great character and it is enjoyable to see him back, and even cooler to see him teamed up with Braxton. Their relationship is endearing and more than once very touching. The fact that they are basically trained assassins adds to the layers. Wolff has zero social skills and lacks the ability to tap into emotions. Braxton just wants a simple thank you, or I miss you, or how’s my brother. Try as he will Wolff struggles to give any of those. Yet family is family and Braxton remains loyal and committed to taking care of Christian at all costs.
Along with the shoot outs and fist-a-cuffs there is a lot of humor in this one; most stemming from Christian’s awkward social skills. Family dynamics are hard in general much less when compounded with the lifestyle these brothers lead. There is a balance here of seeing that dynamic play out as the action increases. Christian, Braxton, and Medina need to uncover and dismantle an undercover human traffic ring out of Mexico. Though there are moments of confusion for the viewer in regard to who is in charge and how the parts all fit, it does come together in the end.
The first Accountant film dealt more with Wolff’s strengths of problem solving and math equations. We get that here too, but Accountant 2 gives us a heavier does of his butt kicking ability. The action is front and center in this one and not relegated to one or two scenes. Luckily gun fights and bar fights do not overshadow what we love about Wolff – his savant side – nor the relationship he has with Braxton.
An additional layer to this one is the use of tech gadgetry applied by Justine (Allison Robertson) who we met briefly in the first film. Wolff has kept the Institute where Justine lives heavily funded and she now has a team of savvy kids who continue to aid in this missions. These moments walk the line of improbability, but luckily it doesn’t cross over into scene ruining sketchiness. If these things are actually possible, then we might as well all just keep our blinds open; for nothing is ever hidden.
Sequels are always iffy especially when following up a well liked film. There is the worry that it will lose some magic, especially after nine years. The Accountant 2 captures much of what we enjoyed in the first film while also peeling off new layers and upping the action. When it comes to theatrical entertainment it is hard to ask for more than that.
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