What To Watch This Weekend: 'The Accountant 2,' And 'Andor'

HOLLYWOOD, CA — The cinematic landscape lights up this weekend with a numbers whiz and a rebel hero — both set to dazzle in a milieu filled with action, suspense and intrigue.

Remember the math savant in the 2016 action-thriller "The Accountant"? Ben Affleck reprises his iconic role as forensic accountant Christian Wolff in the crime-thriller sequel, "The Accountant 2," joined by Jon Bernthal as Wolff's estranged brother. Together, the siblings are tasked to solve an intricate international mystery.

Looking for a taut political thriller series? "Andors" returns for its second and final season on Disney+, starring Diego Luna in the title role of a thief-turned rebel spy.

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Check out what we thought of the two new releases below.

Movies And Shows Out This Weekend

“The Accountant 2”

Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal; directed by Gavin O’Connor

Ben Affleck reprises his role as the autistic numbers whiz Christian Wolff, a forensic accountant whose métier also includes exacting punishment to those who inflict egregious harm to others.

Set eight years after the events of the original movie, the crime-thriller “Accountant 2” opens with the murder of Ray King (J.K. Simmons), the former director of the Treasury Department’s criminal investigations unit. He apparently left a mysterious message for his successor, Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), to contact the notorious Wolff.

Stunned as she is, Medina begrudgingly decides to track down the felonious accountant, who is now living in Idaho and searching for love. No wonder, the math savant is even seen at speed dating events these days. Soon, Medina and Wolff get reconnected and begin tracing back King’s final days based on a cryptic wall of evidence the deceased left behind. Can Wolff eventually solve the puzzle?

Whereas the original film resonates mostly with a serious action-thriller tone, the sequel mainly revels in comedic pursuits, as prominently seen in Wolff’s unforgettable interactions with his brother, the showboating Braxton (Jon Bernthal), a hit man with a great sense of humor. Can you imagine the soft-spoken Wolff bantering with the brash Braxton? Their repartees are splendid.

In all, it is the fraternal chemistry that ultimately buoys “Accountant 2.” The exuberance of the buddy-comedic moments compensates for the film’s meandering pace and muddled plot.

“Andor” Season 2

Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O'Reilly; show created by Tony Gilroy

For “Andor” fans, it might be bittersweet as the “Star Wars” spinoff series makes its way to Disney+ for its second and final season, three years after the first season made its debut.

A taut political-thriller series sans the lightsaber-wielding extravaganza and supernatural force of a “Star Wars” movie, “Andor” stars Diego Luna as the eponymous thief-turned rebel spy Cassian Andor, introduced in 2016's “Rogue One,” a sci-fi film that is a prequel to the original 1977 “Star Wars.”

Notably, the character-driven series explores Cassian’s life five years prior to the events of the said two films. The first season traces his transformation from a petty smuggler to a rising rebel hero in a political milieu filled with turmoil and oppression. By contrast, the second season focuses on Cassian’s further involvement with the determined resistance as the conflict with the Empire intensifies.

Spanning a four-year journey, the entire second season is broken into four chapters of three episodes each, and the first batch was released on April 22. Subsequently, the remaining three-episodic chapters will be released on April 29, May 6 and May 13. Be advised that each chapter time-jumps one year after the events of the previous three episodes — meaning an entire year will have already gone on.

Arguably the best “Star Wars” offshoot yet, “Andor” is bound to take viewers across an odyssey that is full of pathos. Kudos to creator Tony Gilroy and his writers for whipping up a series that has a beating heart and a spunky soul.

(“Andor” Season 2 is now available on Disney+.)