The Accountant 2 Could’ve at Least Let Ben Affleck Find Love

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Light spoilers for The Accountant 2 follow.

In the midst of his marriage to Jennifer Lopez appearing shaky, Ben Affleck, much like other Hollywood celebrities in similar situations, found solace in an action-packed movie project. Interestingly, Affleck had been working on The Accountant 2 prior to tying the knot with Lopez; however, this upcoming action sequel served as a convenient explanation for his absence at her major events and living apart from her. It seemed as though Affleck was using filming alongside Jon Bernthal as an opportunity to distract himself from romantic difficulties. However, it later became clear that even his on-screen character in The Accountant 2 was unable to find love, mirroring Affleck’s own struggles.

In this film, I had expected Affleck’s divorce to be a backstory element, but it was directly addressed early on. Initially, we find Christian Wolff, the autistic accountant with a knack for criminal activities, preparing for a speed-dating event. This is intriguing because in the previous film, he had an accountant love interest (Anna Kendrick). At the gathering, Wolff, who schemes even his compatibility software, has numerous women interested in him, but he turns them off with his awkward tax advice and lack of social skills. The film subtly explores Wolff’s longing for connection, which is evident in his interactions with his brother, Braxton (Bernthal). During a quiet moment in the action, Braxton takes Wolff to a bar where he impresses a woman with his recently acquired line-dancing skills. He even manages to get her phone number, but as an accountant, Wolff is poor at remembering numbers and ends up losing it.

In the finale of “The Accountant 2,” just like Ben Affleck’s character, Wolff remains unattached. He didn’t pursue the woman from the bar or receive calls from any of his speed-dating counterparts. (It seems none were ready to tolerate his awkwardness for the security of dating an accountant!)

In my perspective, it might have been challenging for Affleck to imagine his character finding love given the turmoil he was experiencing in real life. However, considering that the romantic plotline is established early in the film and revisited numerous times, I’m inclined to believe that this wasn’t the case. Director Gavin O’Connor hinted that Wolff might find the love he deserves in a potential third movie, with Kendrick being open to reprising her role as his original love interest. Yet, by then, Affleck may have already moved past his personal heartache. Movies are meant to instill hope, and after Lopez and Affleck’s split left us questioning the authenticity of love, The Accountant 3: Filing Jointly could reignite our faith in love. Let’s make it happen!

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2025-05-01 00:54