- James McAvoy, James Corden, Seamus McLean Ross, Samuel Bottomley
- April 10th 2026
- 107
- James McAvoy
This biographical comedy tells the story of Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains, who pretended to be American to achieve success in music.
After reaching the top of his game as an actor, James McAvoy has now become a director, and his first feature, California Schemin’, spotlights an unbelievable true story from his homeland.
Set in Dundee, Scotland, in 2003, the biographical comedy tells the true story of Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains – aka Billy Boyd (Samuel Bottomley) and Gavin Bain (Seamus McLean Ross).
After being laughed out of the room during an audition for a record label in London, they decide to con the music industry by pretending to be Californian rappers. Their scheme works and they sign a record deal!
They originally intend to come clean to expose the anti-Scottish bias in the entertainment industry, but their success encourages them to continue living a lie.
Although they have achieved their dream and are living a successful, hedonistic lifestyle as professional rappers, they are never able to be themselves and have to maintain their American personas all the time.
Eventually, the burden of the lie drives a wedge between the pals – Billy liked his old life and wants to go home to his girlfriend Mary (Lucy Halliday), but Gavin prefers his new life and feels more confident as his fake alter ego.
The film hinges on the chemistry between the lead duo, and Bottomley and Ross are sensational together. It’s a delight watching them rap, perform in front of huge crowds, and impressively switch between Scottish and American accents.
They are hilarious and very entertaining in the first half, which is where the film excels, and then they take a serious turn later on when the story gets more dramatic, and the duo disagrees about the future of their music career. The film loses a certain something during this dark turn, but that is what the true story required.
As well as directing, McAvoy has a small but impactful role as a scary and sweary record label boss, and he is joined by the endearing Halliday as Mary, Rebekah Murrell as the duo’s main label champion, and James Corden in a cameo as a sleazy music executive.
McAvoy delivers a hilarious and thoroughly entertaining film with his debut. If this is what he produces on his first go, it’ll be interesting to see where he goes next. What a story!
In cinemas from Friday 10th April
By Hannah Wales
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