California Schemin' (15)

In 2003 Dundee, self-doubting wannabe rapper Gavin Bain and rhyme-spouting best friend Billy Boyd work side-by-side in a telephone call centre. Away from the headsets, the duo attend an audition in London to find the next So Solid Crew but sneering talent scouts dismiss them because of the Scottish accents: In response, Billy and Gavin pass themselves off as Californian rap duo Silibil N' Brains, constructing an elaborate back story to convince clueless British record executives.

LondonNet Film Review

California Schemin’ (15) Film Review from LondonNet

Not all underdog stories bark loudly or bare their teeth. Some politely raise a paw to ask for a treat and reward attention with a warm lick to the face. Scottish actor James McAvoy’s directorial debut is an outlandish comedy drama about two unlikely folk heroes, inspired by Gavin Bain’s self-explanatory memoir California Schemin’: How Two Lads From Scotland Conned The Music Industry…

Opening in 2003 Dundee, McAvoy’s feelgood picture introduces self-doubting wannabe rapper Gavin (Seamus McLean Ross) and rhyme-spouting best friend Billy Boyd (Samuel Bottomley), who work side-by-side in a telephone call centre with the latter’s girlfriend (Lucy Halliday). Billy confidently adopts a British accent to cold sell broadband, quietly telling Gavin, “You’ve always got to give the customer what they want to hear”. Away from the headsets, the duo attend an audition in London to find the next So Solid Crew but sneering talent scouts (Amber Anderson, Sonny Poon Tip) dismiss their lyrics because of the Scottish accents: “It’s like the rapping Proclaimers!”

In response, Billy and Gavin pass themselves off as Californian rap duo Silibil N’ Brains, constructing an elaborate back story to convince clueless British record executives that they are the next Eminem or D12. Neotone Records scout Tessa (Rebekah Murrell) is impressed by an impromptu performance and introduces the pair to her boss, Anthony Reid (McAvoy). Fate dictates that the scouts from the disastrous audition are also Neotone staff but, thankfully, they fail to recognise Billy and Gavin with west coast makeovers. Consequently, Anthony offers Silibil N’ Brains a record deal and the friends buy wholeheartedly into their lie. When the truth threatens to surface and Tessa stands to lose her job, reality bites hard as Billy and Gavin prepare to face the music.

California Schemin’ is an assured first effort behind the camera for McAvoy, which handcuffs our emotional investment to Gavin from early scenes of him being chased by bullies and openly crying on the long bus ride home from the humiliating London audition. Bonds fray in the second half when Gavin, in particular, sacrifices likeability to protect his house of cards from being blow down between snorts of cocaine.

Screenwriters Elaine Gracie and Archie Thomson take gentle sideswipes at the politics and image-obsessed shallowness of the early noughties (Billy and Gavin initially intended to reveal their true identities on MTV as a two-fingered salute to the music industry) within the framework of a wee rags-to-riches fairy tale. McLean Ross and Bottomley are well matched as Dundonian pretenders and McAvoy replicates home video footage of the real Gavin and Billy, glimpsed during the end credits, with scrappy, stylised inserts. “This is for the documentary when we’re rich and famous!” grins Billy, wielding a handheld video camera. Only one wish comes true.

– Jo Planter