TIFF: California Schemin’

The title intrigued me before I read the word rap in the description, so I gave it a quick pass.

I love music and rap is not music to me. Well…actually, I don’t mind some rap.  I just detest the non-stop swearing and the anger.

I decided to choose another movie starring Saoirse Ronan over this one. But then, the day before the screening, James McAvoy was in the news.  He got punched by someone in a bar that I walked by every day while in Toronto on the way to screenings. Had I known he was in there, I might have walked in. He’s okay though. So his movie sparked my intrigue – I looked it up and there it was – the rap movie I declined to see “California Schemin”…so I decided to read up on it some more. 

Lesson learned: never judge a movie by one word!  This was one of the best films I’ve seen at the fest – based on a true story that has way more to offer than just rap.  The film dives into themes of identity, ambition, and the cost of reinvention.

This is McAvoy’s directorial debut.  Based on the wild true story of Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains.

Two childhood friends from Dundee – Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, dream of hip-hop stardom but are dismissed by the British music industry for their Scottish accents. So they reinvent themselves as American rappers from Southern California, complete with fake identities and flawless West Coast personas. And silly made up names.  What starts as a cheeky hustle spirals into a full-blown con, as they land record deals, appear on MTV, and tour with their heroes.

It stars Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McLean Ross as the duo, with supporting roles from Lucy Halliday and Rebekah Murrell.

Critics are praising its mix of humor and heart, with Rotten Tomatoes showing a 92% positive rating from early reviews.

McAvoy’s direction balances the absurdity of the con with deeper questions about identity and authenticity.  He plays a small role in the film as a record studio executive.

This movie is a feel-good underdog tale that dives into themes of identity, ambition, and the cost of reinvention.  And the lengths young artists will go to break through a system that refuses to take them seriously.

Not to be confused with a 2014 thriller called California Scheming, which is unrelated.

California Schemin’ is already on its way to screens, with StudioCanal leading the charge.  If you see it , let me know what you think.