If you told me that I would spend most of my time laughing while watching The Accountant 2, I would not have believed you. That was before I actually had the chance to watch the film.
A sequel of The Accountant (2016), this film plays it a lot looser compared to the original, crafting hilarious scenes while still being a tale about brotherhood at its core, and never forgetting its roots in shoot-’em-up action. If you’re on the fence about watching this film, then check out SEA Wave’s High Five Review of The Accountant 2.
Coalescing Contradictions
John Bernthal and Ben Affleck in “The Accountant 2” | Photo from Warner Bros. Pictures
The film has a surprisingly lighter tone compared to its prequel, and manages to balance dark themes that reflect the reality we live in today. While on a surface-level watch, it may seem weirdly inconsistent due to comedic scenes being interspersed with serious action scenes, there is no tonal whiplash to be found—instead, you get a story asks you to throw away any preconceptions and embrace the absurdity at the heart of violence. And with two brothers who could not be more different at the core of the story, you really see how the film flaunts its mastery of contradictions.
Brothers in Bloodshed
Photo from Warner Bros. Pictures
The main protagonists are a pair of brothers—Ben Affleck’s Christian Wolff is a lovable golden retriever with a powerful mind and an unreadable pace, and John Bernthral’s Brax is brash and dangerous, but means well and just wants to connect with his brother. Every interaction between the brothers draws viewers in, and while the Wolffs do bicker a lot, it always comes from a place of caring, which makes the audiences care about too.
Thematic and Topical
Cynthia Addai-Robinson in “The Accountant 2” | Photo from Warner Bros. Pictures
What hits hard in the film (aside from all the punching and kicking) is its depiction of human trafficking. At a time when the US is cracking down on immigration, The Accountant 2 shows us the damage sustained by these people who are only seeking a better chance at life. The film doesn’t delve too deep into the causes and effects of this topic, but we see the political realities of being an immigrant in the 21st century reflected in pivotal characters in the film. And while it doesn’t really offer an actual solution to this problem, just having the courage to depict this issue and not turn a blind eye to the experiences of immigrants make it a relevant watch.
A Pace of its Own
Photo from Warner Bros. Pictures
Yes, The Accountant 2 is extremely entertaining, but it has one flaw that keeps it from being a truly great movie—its pacing. The cold open really hooks you in, and the climactic finale keeps your adrenaline pumping, but the uneven pacing in the middle of the film hurts its flow and rewatchability. Its prequel is a purposefully slow-burn action thriller, but since The Accountant 2 has elements of comedy and a more lighthearted tone, it struggles to find the perfect pace to set for some of its scenes, most of which drag on too long and may require a bit more time in the cutting room floor.
Superstar Power
Photo from Warner Bros. Pictures
I’ll say it—The Accountant 2 would not have been as fun to watch if the protagonists were played by other actors. Aside from playing their roles to a tee, Affleck and Bernthral’s chemistry on screen lead to some of the film’s best moments. Just the brothers talking while sitting down on lawn chairs, or going out to a bar for a night out make for some of the movie’s most entertaining scenes—and that’s saying something when the film also has action-packed gunfights and car chases that will make you jump out of your seat.
At the end of the day, if you want a worthwhile watch with charismatic leads that can pack a punch and turn mundane dialogue into a fun verbal spar, then The Accountant 2 is the movie for you. While its pacing issues may draw it back, the film ultimately succeeds in making an uproarious action film with a commendable attempt at balancing its more comedic undertones. SEA Wave gives The Accountant 2 a 3.5 out of 5 waves.