Critics Have Seen The Accountant 2, And This ‘Curiously Messy’ Ben Affleck Action Thriller Is No By-The-Numbers Sequel

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Ben Affleck has several films in development, both as an actor and through his production company, but one of the most eagerly awaited Affleck projects is the long-awaited sequel, “The Accountant 2“. The two-time Oscar winner will be returning to his role as Christian Wolff for the movie, which is scheduled for release in 2025. Critics were given a sneak peek of the action thriller before its April 25 premiere in theaters. Let’s see if we should add this film to our weekend viewing schedule.

Initial responses from the SXSW premiere of The Accountant 2 commended the growth of Jon Bernthal’s character as the title character’s brother Braxton, as they join forces to pursue a killer. In general, it appears that Ben Affleck successfully dodged the trap associated with creating a sequel. According to critic Richard Crouse, the film deserves 4 out of 5 stars.

Released perfectly timed for tax season, the buddy film “The Accountant 2” features an accountant brother who’s neurodivergent and a hitman brother in its cast. It balances humor with suspense and danger flawlessly, making it both enjoyable and intriguing. With a line dancing sequence and a human trafficking plot woven into a pizza business, it’s complex and chaotic, yet incredibly engaging.

The movie’s convoluted storyline and decent action scenes primarily serve to bring Christian and Braxton together on screen, which is acceptable given the fun and excitement it delivers.

According to Kim Newman from Empire, the upcoming action movie receives three stars out of five, as he shares a similar viewpoint that the complex plot serves merely as a pretext for the ruthless protagonists to unleash their violence on villains who richly deserve it. In his review, Newman further remarks…

Affleck and Bernthal create a humorous yet questionable duo, with Affleck’s character Christian having autism, making assassin Brax believe he is the ‘regular’ sibling. The most amusing part: the line-dancing sequence.

In almost every review I’ve come across, people have pointed out that Ben Affleck’s character does line dancing. This makes me wonder if this dance move alone justifies the ticket price? Brian Truitt from USA TODAY states that “The Accountant 2” isn’t as exceptional as its 2016 counterpart, but the intriguing relationship between the two brothers and the filmmakers’ approach to developing an autistic character make it a worthwhile viewing experience. He rates it 2.5 out of 4 stars in his review.

The combination of Affleck and Bernthal is crucial for these films. Chris often finds his brother’s humor baffling, while Brax carries deep-seated grudges he needs to resolve. However, there’s a subtle warmth in their performances that makes them captivating to watch. This tender dynamic adds a unique touch to the series: These movies could very well be mindless action flicks, but they offer depth and thoughtfulness instead. They also delve into portraying neurodivergent characters in a heroic light, a subject that’s usually overlooked by mainstream macho films.

Jake Coyle from AP assigns a rating of 2.5 stars out of 4 to the movie. He remarks that Ben Affleck’s portrayal in the film seems overly contrived and forced. However, according to him, when Jon Bernthal enters the scene, the sequel finds its rhythm and fits together nicely. Coyle further elaborates on this point.

It’s questionable if The Accountant 2 could pass either casual observation or a formal examination, not to mention an actual audit. Considering its protagonist is a meticulous character, it seems oddly disorganized. However, the film does seem to have a clear understanding of how to balance the seriousness and the playful absurdity that a movie about an exceptional accountant requires.

I’m quite open to the idea of “deliberately absurd,” but Jacob Oller from AV Club isn’t fond of this sequel. He argues that it overwhelms the chemistry of its characters with chaotic action sequences, problematic themes, and predictable storylines. Furthermore, he criticizes the film for not sensitively portraying neurodiversity, according to his review.

In simpler terms, the sequel to “The Accountant” appears to have abandoned its original concept and focuses primarily on excessive violence, with numerous scenes depicting characters being shot. The writer, Bill Dubuque, seems less interested in intricate plot twists, hidden financial mysteries, or deep character backstories; instead, he aims for a high-octane action series, and this time around, the focus is on human trafficking.

Despite some mixed reviews, the film has managed a 79% positive rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It seems that for this sequel, they’ve scaled back on the action from The Accountant (available with a Max subscription) to focus more on the sibling bond. If you’re eager to catch more of this unconventional action hero, The Accountant 2 will be in theaters on April 25th.

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2025-04-24 22:39