‘The fall didn’t kill him. It was the abrupt stop...’
On paper, this feels like the kind of sequel that nobody asked for. The Accountant was a mild hit for director Gavin O’ Connor and star Ben Affleck back in 2016, but it didn’t make the same cultural splash as something like John Wick. And yet, here we are, nine (!) years later, doing it all over again…
Christian Wolff (Affleck) is back! This time he’s trying to recover some trafficked children. Anna Kendrick is sadly MIA, but Jon Bernthal returns in an enhanced role as Wolff’s wild card brother and sometime protector, Braxton, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson joins the cast as Treasury Department top brass, Marybeth Medina.
While the plot is uninspired and, honestly, not really important, the extended scenes of Christian hanging out with his brother are truly a joy to behold. Affleck and Bernthal share an easy and authentic chemistry that is totally convincing, and Affleck’s portrayal of someone with autism continues to be handled sensitively and with a surprising amount of tenderness. While the action sequences are only serviceable rather than show-stopping, Bill Dubuque’s script is fast-paced and often funny, and Bryce Dessner (from indie rock band The National) provides a genuinely excellent score – a rarity in this genre.
Apparently, there are whispers of a third entry in this franchise, and you know what, I’m here for it. Obviously, part of this is because of my undying love for Ben Affleck, but also, these flicks are just a good time at the movies.
