The Accountant 2

By Joanna Langfield

Quite literally a blast from the past, this sequel feels like the kind of entertainment crowds used to flock to theaters to see. Some action, some fun, a touch of morality. A pretty good way to spend a couple of hours.

It’s been nine years since Ben Affleck debuted as the autistic savant, a math genius who doesn’t mind throwing a solid punch or two as he solves some complex, nasty problems. And now, drawn into the case of a murdered old associate, Christian needs a hand. Who better to call than his brother, the hyperkinetic Braxton (Jon Bernthal)?

Back when the franchise first hit the screen, there was considerable buzz about the mental state of Christian. Is he on the Spectrum? Or is he just, shall we say, a little “off”? I appreciated the subtlety of Affleck’s performance then and do so now, too. And it’s nice to spend some time with the lovely Cynthia Addai-Robinson and always dependable J.K. Simmons. And while there is an also appreciated (by me, anyway) thread of conscience that weaves through the lengthy string of violent action scenes, what will make this chapter cook for everyone is the dandy Bernthal, a thankfully more and more busy actor who insures his appearance here, as the not so yin to Affleck’s yang, is truly a kick.