The Accountant 2: A Buddy-Action Sequel That Chooses Chemistry Over Coherence

The Accountant 2 (2025)

The Accountant 2 (2025), directed by Gavin O’Connor, reunites Ben Affleck as Christian Wolff and Jon Bernthal as his estranged brother Braxton in a sequel that leans hard into brotherly dynamics and buddy-comedy beats. Following its SXSW premiere and theater release, the film has divided critics—some applauding its charm and action; others deriding its messy plotting and tonal shifts.

👍 What Works

Affleck & Bernthal's chemistry

Their dynamic is the beating heart of the film. Affleck’s deadpan, socially atypical accountant paired with Bernthal’s gruff intensity creates genuine warmth and humor. Critics like those from RogerEbert.com and Slashfilm note the sequel “hums off their energy,” and that the camaraderie often elevates the movie.

High-energy action

While some sequences fall flat, many deliver satisfying, old-school shootouts and hand-to-hand combat. The Cinema Group praised the practical, visceral choreography, and Slashfilm highlighted standout set-pieces.

Fun tone shift

Critics from Entertainment Weekly and Time appreciated the film's embrace of a lighter, more playful tone, calling it a "fun adventure" with tongue-in-cheek humor that sometimes arrests the overly serious narrative.

👎 What Doesn't

Convoluted plot and pacing

The film juggles human trafficking, migrant rescue, and tech-savvy subplots—many found the narrative messy and overstuffed. RogerEbert.com described it as “impossible to care about” and “pacing often trumps realism,” while others agreed espionage elements muddle the fun.

Tone inconsistency

The shift toward comedy hasn’t landed for everyone. Decider panned it as a "muddled, less engaging experience" with unusual humor undercutting intensity. The Washington Post criticized its patronizing depiction of neurodivergent characters and uneven tonal balance.

Stereotyped portrayal of autism

While some praise the expanded neurodiversity narrative, others feel it slips back into savant tropes. Vulture and Decider noted that instead of nuanced representation, the film leans on caricature.

📝 Final Take

The Accountant 2 won’t win awards for elegance or tight plotting, but it offers a solid dose of mid-budget action entertainment—especially if you’re drawn to chemistry-driven sequels and old-school fight scenes. It shines brightest when Affleck and Bernthal banter and bond, though its ambition occasionally outpaces its clarity. Fans of quirky, character-focused action pictures will find it enjoyable; viewers seeking a coherent thriller might feel let down.