Cook review: ‘Accountant 2' adds up to fun actioner for grownups
'The Accountant 2″ adds up to a terrific action movie with a kind of buddy flick and a numbers expert at its core.
Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal, who plays his brother (and also is recognizable for his roles in 'The Bear' and the recent 'The Amateur') are a terrific pair.
The story begins eight years after 'The Accountant,' the film that introduced audiences to Christian Wolff, Affleck's brilliant autistic forensic accountant, who once again has some mysteries to unravel.
J. K. Simmons shows up right from the get-go as the former director of an investigations unit for the Treasury Department.
Bernthal is Christian's younger brother, who has an interesting relationship with his sibling that ranges from frustration to admiration, and sometimes both at once.
The movie focuses on gun play, so much so that you could consider it a kind of Western – almost a kind of contemporary 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' with all of the shoot-'em-ups and buddy humor. In fact, one of the most entertaining scenes takes place in a country;western bar – you really need to see Affleck in the line-dancing sequence. Another funny scene involves Affleck's character in a speed-dating situation in which he disappoints every woman he meets.
Director Gavin O'Connor and screenwriter Bill Dubuque deliver a fast-paced actioner that drew audiences into sold-out auditoriums in its first few days of release. It's a crowd-pleaser for grownups. The film never takes itself too seriously and lets the chemistry of the two leads engage viewers.
I'll bet someone is writing a third installment already.
P. S. Want to get reacquainted with the characters before you see the sequel? 'The Accountant,' not coincidentally, is streaming on a number of platforms if you want a refresher.
3 1/2 stars
Rated: R for violence and foul language.
Running time: Two hours ans 12 minutes.
In theaters
Watch the trailer here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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