'The Accountant 2' Review: A More Fast-Paced and Action Heavy Sequel
- Dan Bremner
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Dan Bremner - April 29, 2025
“Christian Wolff applies his brilliant mind and illegal methods to reconstruct the unsolved puzzle of a Treasury chief's murder.”
9 years ago Ben Affleck and Gavin O’Connor unleashed the modest-hit The Accountant on the world, which stole the hearts and minds of dads everywhere (Plus mine). I never ever expected the sequel to happen this many years on, but I received the call from my favourite accountant and was more than happy to check up on him.
The Accountant 2 is one of those rare joys that takes everything that worked from its predecessor and doubles down on it, while ditching some of the elements that didn't work, making for a more fast-paced, action-heavier sequel that leans on comedy to highly entertaining results.
Right out the gate, the comedy slaps. We meet Christian Wolff in a speed-dating fiasco, having “broken the algorithm” of a dating site, lining up dozens of women for a montage of gloriously awkward dates. It’s laugh-out-loud stuff, Affleck playing Wolff’s deadpan weirdness to perfection. The goofy, playful tone carries through, making this feel like a buddy comedy with bullets that rarely takes itself seriously. I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed the comedic beats of Affleck and Bernthal just bonding, discussing where they are at their middle-age and attempting to get Christian out of his shell of a nomadic lifestyle from his metallic camper van.
Affleck and Jon Bernthal, reprising Brax, are the core of it after being kept apart most of the first film. Their brotherly bond, surprisingly heartfelt amid the chaos is pure gold, like a mix of sibling bickering and ride-or-die loyalty. Affleck’s Wolff is sharper here, balancing nerdy quirks with lethal precision, while Bernthal’s charm and hard-edged steal scenes. The rest of the cast? Less starry than the first film. J.K. Simmons is always welcome, but only appears in the opening to die, setting up the events. Daniella Pineda’s a standout as a mysterious assassin, but Cynthia Addai-Robinson’s Treasury agent is a buzzkill, moping about the Wolffs' dirty methods while she's by the books.
The mystery’s a step up as Wolff untangles a murder with no flashbacks bogging things down, keeping the pace snappy. It’s engaging, with twists that don’t feel forced, unlike the first film’s expository slog. And the wildest bit? Wolff’s special needs school is now a hacker haven, like Xavier’s School for Gifted Children but for cyber-geniuses who back him up. It’s a bonkers idea, and I’m here for it, even if it’s pure comic-book nonsense that only adds to the goofy tone.
The action goes hard, especially in the third act. A white-knuckle blitz of tactical shootouts and bone-crunching fights in Mexico. Wolff’s gunplay is surgical, mowing down goons with that auto-aim headshot skill that Gavin O’Connor loves making look incredibly stylish . The choreography’s tight, with blood spraying and bodies dropping in glorious chaos. The visuals are cinematic with grotty motels, neon lit bars and sun-tinged Mexico, all shot with a gritty gloss that looks ace on the big screen. Very thankful Amazon gave this one a wide theatrical release rather than dumping it straight on Prime.
Downsides? The villains are forgettable, faceless monsters with zero menace. They’re no match for the Wolff Brothers, making the stakes feel a bit flimsy. And the supporting cast, while solid, lacks the first film’s star power. Still, the film stands alone while teasing a third outing, leaving plenty of roads to explore. I am more than happy to see these brothers return for the trilogy closer that is planned, and I hope this does well and I'll be there day one.
The Accountant 2 is a blast - funny, action-heavy, and packed with Affleck-Bernthal bromance. It’s not flawless, but it’s a sequel done right, ditching the previous film's baggage and doubling down on the stuff that worked, making for a wild ride. I am more than ready for a third, I just hope it doesn't take 9 years again.
The Accountant 2 is out now in cinemas
Want more film reviews? Check out more content on our website Film Focus Online!
