Sequel for Guys Like Me

The Accountant 2: Braxton and Christian bonding (Page/WSJ)

We first saw the 2016 film, The Accountant, in 2017. Ben Affleck plays the titular character, Christian Wolff, a weapons and martial arts specialist who is also a financial wizard. He is the first person who underworld magnates call when they have an "accounting" problem and legitimate auditors can't be brought in. Sometimes, however, his clients violate Wolff's personal code of ethics and he employs his lethal skills, as well as leaks to law enforcement, to enforce that code.

Another aspect to the character is that he is severely autistic--Rainman meets Rambo--which makes for some amusing and awkward moments as the super-intelligent Wolff has trouble figuring out the basics of social interactions. The Accountant ended, after the obligatory victory over bad guys, with Christian Wolff reconciling with his normal (neurotypical) and equally lethal brother Braxton.

After nine years the sequel, The Accountant 2, has been released:

“The Accountant 2” is a rarity. It’s a sequel that blows by the respectable original, evolving into something simultaneously smarter and sillier, more grounded and much more fun.

Ben Affleck is back — finally, in his best role in years (along with his 2020 turn in “The Way Back”) — as Christian Wolff, an awkward, high-functioning autistic bean counter for bad guys who is secretly a super killer. He and his estranged brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal), a slick and successful assassin, reunite when Chris is summoned to help investigate the murder of a former U.S. Treasury agent he used to feed tips to on crimes.

...Affleck and Bernthal’s portrayals are miles ahead of where they were in the first film. Bernthal seems to benefit from revisiting roles years later, as evident in his convincing return as the Punisher in the current “Daredevil: Born Again” series. This time around, Braxton is informed by fraternal warmth and goofiness. The brothers’ relationship feels settled into, and it’s a pleasure to watch. When Braxton is about to invite some women into their motel room, he admonishes the stiff Chris, “Just go stand over there. Don’t be scary.”

Affleck’s Chris is much more detailed and lived in now. Before, physical and vocal inconsistencies could pop out, but the Berkeley-born actor is in the groove here. There’s increased precision in Chris’ neurodivergent behaviors and vocal mannerisms (perhaps credit is due to the film’s neurodiversity consultant, “Autism: The Musical” star Elaine Hall). Affleck appears more relaxed, so the character is more alive.

Throughout your humble CPA's life accountants have been mocked for their introversion and inflexibility. Finally there was a movie with an accounting protagonist that was popular enough to have a sequel (and perhaps a series!) for guys like me.