The Accountant 2 has enough left to say to justify returning to Christian Wolff. Not in a dramatically groundbreaking way, but through an entertaining mixture of action, humor and a much stronger focus on the brothers.
Ben Affleck returns as the introverted numbers expert with combat training. Jon Bernthal's Braxton moves closer to the center, and that helps considerably. Their sharp exchanges and changing alliances bring convincing sibling tension without reducing the relationship to a cliché.
A murdered former colleague leads them into human trafficking, corruption and a dangerous organization. The plot sometimes feels overstuffed. Pace, solid action and well-placed humor keep that excess from swallowing the film.
I was pleasantly surprised by the space given to the characters. Christian struggles to communicate feelings while looking for connection through his actions. A line-dancing scene, in which he approaches rhythm through numerical patterns, is a highlight. The sequel develops its unusual hero without abandoning what makes him distinctive.
Affleck uses minimal expression effectively. Bernthal supplies the louder, more impulsive and vulnerable counterweight. Cynthia Addai-Robinson and J.K. Simmons remain supportive figures, which makes sense with the brothers as the clear focus.
Some twists are strained and the plot needlessly complicated. Nevertheless, the sequel preserves the original's appeal and expands the relationship that matters most. No milestone, but a follow-up I enjoyed watching.
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