’California Schemin’’ review: James McAvoy directorial debut is engaging real-life Scottish rap tale

Dir: James McAvoy. UK. 2025. 103mins

In 2003 two annoyed Scottish lads determined to reveal the vapidness of the music enterprise by pretending to be American rap duo Silibil N’ Brains. Their outlandish plan succeeded way over they may have hoped, finally main them to assist legendary hiphop group D12 at Glasgow’s iconic venue Barrowlands. Their unpredictable real-life story serves because the inspiration for actor James McAvoy’s partaking but visually disorientating directorial debut characteristic California Schemin’. 

A memorable tackle the hiphop film

Contemplating that Gavin Bain (right here performed by Séamus McLean Ross) and Billy Boyd (Samuel Bottomley) hail from Dundee, solely 50km from the Glasgow-born McAvoy’s previous stomping grounds, this inspirational story is a delicate touchdown on house turf for the actor-turned-filmmaker. The celebratory temper of California Schemin’ additionally affords McAvoy a tonal change of tempo from an performing profession stuffed with darker movies, like Converse No Evil, Break up and the X-Males franchise. And whereas McAvoy has actually got down to make a regionally particular underdog story fuelled by lengthy odds and large desires, there’s a compelling universality that, when mixed with booming backbeats, may converse to a youthful music-obsessed viewers following its Toronto premiere. 

California Schemin’ follows in a rising custom of rousing rap motion pictures, like Eminem biopic 8 Mile, Craig Brewer’s Hustle & Move, and Wealthy Peppiatt’s current Irish-language rallying cry Kneecap. These rebellious works have changed the biker rocker movies that when galvanized teenagers seeking to break a dishonest system through unshakeable authenticity. 

For a time, the skittish Galvin and the persuasive Billy hope to do the identical. The 2 outsiders, who’re ridiculed by bullies for pursuing their desires, are caught working dead-end telecom jobs. When the pinnacle of Neotone Data Anthony Reid (McAvoy) holds open auditions to search out Scotland’s subsequent nice rap act, Gavin and Billy trek to London – the place they’re summarily laughed out of the room by incredulous A&R staff.

Their egos bruised, the pair return to Dundee with a plan in thoughts: they’re going to pose as rappers from Los Angeles, California, by adopting unhealthy accents and remixing their music with their new voices. They instantly get a gathering with one label head (James Corden), which ends disastrously, earlier than sneaking onto a invoice with a show-stopping efficiency that grabs the eye of Neotone agent Tessa (Rebekah Murrell). 

You count on Gavin and Billy’s silly plan to crumble at any second however, in a flip of occasions akin to The Producers, they turn into a serious hit. The pair are afforded studio time (together with booze and medicines) to provide a single that finally lands them on MTV, the place they hope to reveal themselves as Scottish and reveal the music enterprise to be a sham. As an alternative, they turn into intoxicated by the supersonic-paced way of life. Gavin falls deep into drug-induced delusions of grandeur, whereas Billy betrays his steadfast girlfriend Mary (Lucy Halliday). But, the movie’s commentary on the music enterprise isn’t piercing as a result of we aren’t granted a extra detailed have a look at its inside workings or its systemic attain.   

Whereas the script written by Archie Thomson and Elaine Gracie options sturdy characters, visuals are messier. McAvoy and cinematographer James Rhodes (Femme) love huge establishing photographs and swinging into huge grasp photographs, however compositions are sometimes muddled. But, like most actors-turned-filmmakers, McAvoy is aware of methods to pull ingenious performances from his forged. Ross’s Gavin is an open wound with Elijah Wooden all weirdo power, whereas Bottomley’s Billy expresses tender feelings that break by means of the characters’ unearned bravado. Halliday additionally makes probably the most of her restricted display time, performing because the little little bit of floor these two males haven’t burned. They together with the music—a brash mixture of Beastie Boys silliness and a determined want to be seen — make this a memorable tackle the hiphop film.