California Schemin’ – Review

Based on a ‘true lie,’ California Schemin’ features two Scottish White kids that dream of the rap life way back in 2003. This is Gavin ‘Brains’ Bain (Ross) and Billy ‘Silibil’ Boyd (Bottomley). While this seems like a plot that not many may want to dig into, there is plenty of flavor here to consider. As Gavin struggles constantly to get anyone from any record company to take his calls, it weighs on his mood.

Not only that, but the skateboarding kid is bulled by school kids, with only Billy to come to his rescue. When Gavin hears a radio advertisement from record exec and producer Anthony Reed (McAvoy) who is holding a local event for performers, it piques his interest. Reed wants the next Dre, Snoop, Wu-Tang Clan or Eminem. He is tired of importing American talent, so open auditions in London for people laying down tracks with friends will give anyone a shot at discovery.

Gavin and Billy work crappy jobs, but at least Billy is supported by his girlfriend Mary (Halliday). The group want to find a way to travel to London and try out, but it’s so expensive… What is the cost of a dream though? As the duo finds that no one is looking for a Scottish rap duo, Gavin decides maybe that where they are from, and their accents are the issue, not the content of their raps.

California Schemin’ is an odd tale that is stranger than fiction and focuses on the real-life tale of two Scottish rappers that pose as California’s finest rappers to land a deal. A book was written about the experience and eventually this film was made. Mostly it is about guys that will do anything to follow their dreams, even going too far.

As the duo Silibil N’ Brains gets going, the film pushes further into chaos and drama. McAvoy has a fine handle on the elements presented, and keeps the story on the rails in his first feature as director. The script itself may be a bit by the numbers, but nothing too crazy was needed for this already intriguing tale. The main duo actors play Scottish and American well, as they jump between cultures to find their success.

While this story won’t offer something for everyone, it works as a strange biography feature, as well as a character study on the main kids and their drives towards stardom. Fame, jealousy, money, drugs, relationships, dreams, and a bit of lunacy form the core story elements and the script covers plenty of dramatic ground.