Film lovers on the South by Southwest are getting a primary have a look at loads of extremely anticipated initiatives coming to the 2025 film calendar, and that features the following undertaking from Ben Affleck — The Accountant 2. The upcoming motion film is a sequel to the 2016 flick that once more facilities round Affleck’s autistic accountant Christian. Matt Damon confirmed as much as assist his BFF on the SXSW premiere in Texas, however what are audiences saying?
Along with Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal co-stars as Christian’s estranged brother Braxton. Cynthia Addai-Robinson and J. Okay. Simmons reprise their roles from the primary movie as effectively, although the trailer confirms a giant character loss of life. Rating the film 8 out of 10, Ryan Scott of SlashFilm says The Accountant 2 is funnier than the primary film however not devoid of coronary heart, and it makes Affleck’s character extra three dimensional. In brief, it improves on its predecessor in each method, Scott says, writing:
Is it generally outlandish? Fully, however since when did motion pictures should be lifelike? Escapism usually works very effectively once we can depart actuality behind. What I can say with confidence is that anybody who loved The Accountant will undoubtedly take pleasure in this follow-up. It is uncommon that sequels outdo what got here earlier than, however [director Gavin O’Connor] manages to take action right here. That is pure popcorn leisure, executed successfully. Let me put it this fashion: In the event that they make three extra Accountant motion pictures, I’ll watch three extra Accountant motion pictures. Actually, I hope they do.
Nate Richard of Collider additionally provides the film an 8 out of 10, praising the chemistry between Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal and the motion scenes that simply one-up something from The Accountant. As for Affleck’s portrayal of a person on the autism spectrum, Richard notes that the sequel makes a concerted effort to signify neurodiversity with out slipping into stereotypes. The critic says:
Affleck performs Christian with extra nuance than he did earlier than. He is extremely sensible, however the film goes an extended technique to present that he struggles with socializing with others. The film additionally by no means depends an excessive amount of on unfavorable stereotypes, and the expanded function of Christian’s nonverbal accomplice, Justine (Allison Robertson) reveals these on the spectrum not as superheroes, however simply individuals. Justine is extremely expert, however she nonetheless seems like a human being. Not only a strolling stereotype.
Lovia Gyarkye of THR agrees that the celebs’ portrayal of the brothers is what makes The Accountant 2 so profitable, and that particularly followers of the primary film can be rooting for this fraternal pair. Gyarkye continues:
The Accountant 2 delivers so far as sequels with none actual function go. O’Connor reunites with screenwriter Invoice Dubuque to broaden on Christian’s wild universe of cash laundering and employed assassins. Whereas The Accountant made well-intentioned however clumsy makes an attempt to discover the lifetime of a high-functioning autistic man, The Accountant 2 focuses on the connection between Christian and his brother Brax, two characters followers have come to like. It is a fraternal buddy comedy dressed up as an intricate (learn: convoluted), nail-biting thriller.
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com, nonetheless, was much less impressed with the film general, giving it 2 out of 4 stars. Tallerico agrees that the exploration of Christian’s relationship with brother Brax is when The Accountant 2 is at its finest, however Gavin O’Connor doesn’t put the identical quantity of effort into making us care about the remainder of the plot. Within the critic’s phrases:
The Accountant 2 simply doesn’t construct sufficient momentum. I feel one of many causes for that’s that O’Connor is way extra within the brother buddy comedy than the human trafficking motion movie, and by no means fairly figures out the way to mix the 2. The movie about two very completely different brothers who attempt to bridge the chasm of character between them? Virtually fully works. Every little thing else? Complete hokum. Merging the 2 turns into an task too tough for even The Accountant to decipher.
Christian Zilko of IndieWire grades the film a C+, writing that there’s no actual purpose for this sequel to exist 9 years later, nevertheless it improves on the primary by giving Jon Bernthal a much bigger piece of the pie. The Accountant 2 presents extra laughs and extra coronary heart, Zilko concludes, writing:
If there’s one factor The Accountant 2 deserves credit score for, it’s determining that an autistic Ben Affleck is just not sufficient to hold an motion film on his personal. Christian Wolff may really be one in every of Affleck’s higher appearing jobs lately, however he works much better as a foil than a number one man. Bernthal reveals up with buckets of attraction to share the heavy lifting, making Affleck’s accountant appear extra sympathetic and competent by comparability. And with the 2 males having fun with equal time within the highlight, the movie’s moments of levity appear extra like brotherly razzing than merciless jabs at a disabled man.
We’ve nonetheless received some time to attend earlier than The Accountant 2 hits theaters on Friday, April 25, so if you wish to compensate for what you missed the primary time round, The Accountant may be streamed with both a Max subscription or Amazon Prime Video subscription.
And, in case you did take pleasure in these characters within the first film, critics’ first reactions appear to point you’ll be proud of the sequel. Whereas we watch for its launch date, you’ll want to take a look at Ben Affleck’s different upcoming initiatives.