Rating: 2/5
Synopsis:
After many years, “The Accountant” finally gets a sequel. Christian Wolff, the brilliant autistic accountant is back. This time, his brother Braxton will assist him on his mission. After treasury chief Ray King is murdered, Wolff assists Marybeth Medica (King’s predecessor) to figure out the complexities of the case. Christian must apply his problem solving skills to help Medina solve the mystery, attempting to evade some deadly assassins along the way.
Positives:
I’ll admit that I wasn’t a big fan of the first film. While the premise was interesting, it took itself too seriously for me to get fully engaged. The best improvement about “The Accountant 2” is that it finds a good balance between the cheeky humor and the action. This story lets Christian off the leash, highlighting his dry sense of humor and no nonsense approach to his work. The relationship between him and his brother is also a welcomed change. Their banter and comradery humanize Wolff’s robotic personality, bringing us closer to him as our protagonist. The best scene in the film features Christian using his memorization skills to impress a girl at a country bar. Seeing him dance and embrace the discomfort was a lot of fun. The yin and yang dynamic between the two brings out the best and worst in each of them. I felt disconnected with the characters in the first movie so credit to the writers for embracing a better tone. I’d like to see this extended even further in the third film. The sound mixing during the action sequences is also impressive. The final shootout is a good way to conclude the film.
Negatives:
I’ve come to the conclusion that “The Accountant” franchise just isn’t my cup of tea. While the tone improves from the first, the story actually takes a nosedive this time around. Describing the plot is difficult because the villains in the story are woven into a plot that is even more convoluted than the first. The story goes in directions that I never imagined a franchise like this could go. It pivots between slow, somber moments between brothers which quickly shift into a shootout sequence that feels tacked on to satisfy those coming for the action. The film seems to have an identity crisis, never committing to the lighter tone that it introduces. If the film embraced the brotherly dynamic and gave us more of that, the film would have found a nicer groove. Instead, the tone feels all over the place.
The pacing is also very strange. Since the tone is jumbled, the story feels like it was reworked. I wouldn’t be surprised if the writing team had different ideas as to how the story should unfold. I also wish that the brothers had a more personal approach to their reunion after the eight year gap. Bernthal’s inclusion in the story feels largely unimportant outside of being some comic relief to Christian’s seriousness. While I appreciate the development of their relationship, it could have gone even further. The location in New Hampshire still feels odd as well. It’s hard to believe that a group of children like Christian assist him in these missions. The film is strange all around. The pacing, convoluted plot, and lack of focus are all amplified in this sequel.
Conclusion:
While “The Accountant 2” integrates a lighter tone and brotherly dynamic, the story is even more convoluted and ridiculous. This franchise needs to embrace the sillier elements to achieve its full potential. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t work outside of a cool shootout towards the end and some fun moments between Affleck and Bernthal. With a third film coming, I hope the approach to make Christian more relatable is continued while creating a story with higher stakes and more fluidity. No need to check this one out if the first wasn’t impressive. But those who enjoyed the original may find something to enjoy here.
