FILM REVIEW: CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN’ (15) ESP RATING: 3.5/5
- ESP Online
- 57 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A slick, sharply paced rise-and-fall story with plenty of charm – and just enough bite.
A fair few years ago, I remember watching a documentary about two Scottish lads who told a lie that very quickly got out of hand. It’s one of those stories that stuck with me – the kind that randomly pops back into your head every now and then.
So in many ways, it felt inevitable that one day it would be turned into a film. California Schemin’ tells that story.
The movie follows two wannabe hip-hop artists from Dundee who feel they’re not being taken seriously because of where they’re from. Frustrated and desperate for a break, they reinvent themselves as a pair of wild Californian skaters – complete with fake accents, fabricated backstories, and a whole new identity.
Against all odds, it works. Fame starts to build, opportunities come knocking, and suddenly the lie begins to spiral into something far bigger than they ever imagined.
Directed by James McAvoy (X-Men) in his feature debut – in which he also appears as a brilliantly egotistical music studio manager – this is a really solid first effort. There’s a confidence to the direction, and more importantly, a clear understanding of pacing and tone.
The film never drags, never overstays its welcome, and keeps things moving at just the right tempo. The music is genuinely catchy too, which is crucial for a story like this. You need to believe these guys could actually break through.
The stakes aren’t enormous, and you won’t find huge, glossy set pieces like you might in bigger-budget music biopics. But that actually adds to its charm. The indie feel keeps things grounded, more personal, and arguably more believable.
The two leads – Samuel Bottomley as Billy ‘Silibil’ Boyd and Seamus McLean Ross as Gavin ‘Brains’ Bain – have great chemistry, convincingly selling both the ambition and the pressure of living a double life.
There’s also strong support from the industry side of things – particularly the studio employee (Rebekah Murrell) who discovers them and puts her reputation on the line to push their music. That thread adds a welcome bit of heart, and you really do feel for her as things begin to unravel.
Beneath the humour and absurdity, it’s a fairly straightforward story about identity, friendship, and the consequences of chasing validation in all the wrong ways. Relationships are strained, loyalties are tested, and while the premise might sound outlandish, the emotional beats land.
Unfortunately it probably won’t stick at the cinema for very long – as it has a bit of a niche demographic – but this is an entertaining, easy watch that absolutely deserves an audience.
ESP Rating: 3.5/5
Mike Clarke
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Seamus Mclean Ross, Samuel Bottomley, James McAvoy, Lucy Halliday, Rebekah Murrell, Jennifer Winn & James Corden
Running Time: 1 Hr 47 Mins
Director: James McAvoy
Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough
For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk
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