Movie Review: The Accountant 2 (2025)

Genre: Crime Action Thriller  

Director: Gavin O'Connor  

Starring: Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, J.K. Simmons  

Running Time: 132 minutes  

Synopsis: Retired Financial Crimes Enforcement Director Raymond King (J.K. Simmons) is killed while meeting with professional assassin Anaïs (Daniella Pineda) to discuss the case of a missing Salvadorian family. King's successor and protégé Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) seeks help from elusive autistic accountant and trained killer Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck), and their investigation leads to a brutal human trafficking ring and a case of acquired savant syndrome. In need of more firepower, Christian calls upon his brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal) for backup.

What Works Well: This sequel is all about buzzy brotherly buddiness punctuated by bold uncompromising action and techno wizardry, all underpinned by discussions of autism and a mean streak of humour. Director Gavin O'Connor uses the packed agenda to build and maintain strong momentum, the character-building scenes alternating with bone-crunching brawls and high-casualty shootouts. Ben Affleck plays to his stone-faced strengths, leaving Jon Bernthal and Cynthia Addai-Robinson to inject animation. The climactic battle in the Mexican desert is quite epic. 

What Does Not Work As Well: Both the narrative ambition and the running time needed a trim, as there is just too much going on. The human smuggling plot is almost lost in the shuffle, the core journey of the Salvadorian family and their gifted son reduced to shorthand.

Key Quote:

Wolff: Do I make you nervous?

Medina: Escaped convict...trained by mob accountants...clients are drug cartels, money launderers, several warlords...

Wolff: Is that a yes?

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Movie Review: The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

Genre: Comedy  

Director: Claire Scanlon  

Starring: Allison Janney, Ben Platt, Kristen Bell, Cynthia Addai-Robinson  

Running Time: 99 minutes  

Synopsis: Twice-married Donna (Allison Janney) has three grown children: London-based Eloise (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) was fathered by the wealthy Henrique, who subsequently cheated on Donna. Paul and Alice (Ben Platt and Kristen Bell) are Donna's children from her second husband, who later passed away. Now Eloise is getting married and invites them all to her wedding, but the family is beset by squabbles. Alice is having an affair with her married boss and resents Eloise's wealth, while Paul is upset at his mother and confronting inadequacy issues in his love life.

What Works Well: Some of the London locations are attractive.

What Does Not Work As Well: This so-called comedy offers at best a couple of laughs. The rest of the juvenile script consists of imbecilic adults chasing after alcohol and sex (and often failing at sex because of the alcohol), with vulgarity a perpetual stand-in for wit. All the conflicts stem from an inability to hold simple conversations, and the music soundtrack jackhammers every obvious emotion. The implausible resolutions arrive within an avalanche of new revelations (Dad was a homophobe! I can't have kids! I will overcome self-loathing!), and lead to nausea-inducing hugs-all-around. 

Key Quote:

Paul (to Alice): Eloise is our half-sister which means we can half-ass the relationship.



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