California Schemin’ ★★★★

Released: 10 April 2026

Director: James McAvoy

Starring: Samuel Bottomley, Séamus McLean Ross, James McAvoy, Lucy Halliday

James McAvoy is a name familiar to many for his roles in Split, the X-Men series, Atonement, Starter For 10, Filth and many more. Now he turns his hand to directing with his debut feature, California Schemin’, as it focuses on the true life story of Dundee rap duo Billy Boyd and Gavin Bains, who passed themselves off as Americans.

This seems like an appropriate story for McAvoy to begin with. He’s previously commented that he felt a connection to the background the duo came from, although from Glasgow, not Dundee. We follow Boyd (Samuel Bottomley) and Bain (Séamus McLean Ross) from an undesirable job in sales to living it up in London in an apartment paid for by the record label. McAvoy himself features in a supporting role as Anthony Reid, a despicable record exec, the kind of suit the pair initially intend to stick it to.

We get a real feel for the ramshackle existence the pair have in Dundee, and although their lives are at different stages, Boyd, with his girlfriend and eventual wife Mary (Lucy Halliday) and Gavin seeming keener on pursuing a music career. The contrast and how their sudden fame came out about is played surprisingly straight in what could be a farcical comedy. The pair are magnetic, as they balance different accents and personas.

They are both an incredibly likeable duo who we sympathise with and who will feel relatable to many, who might have the talent but not the means or right persona to get where they want to. Even though the film’s set in the early 00s, there are still signs of this today. Halliday is a terrific foil, given a meatier role than we might expect, offering an outsider’s perspective on the pair’s antics and a reminder of the world they have left behind and those who care about them.

California Schemin’ is a highly enjoyable, funny and moving debut for James McAvoy, clearly close to his heart, capturing early 00s Scotland and London perfectly. The story might not be as widely known as it should be, but it makes for a perfect subject matter. Even if it is not ground-breaking, it offers plenty of signs of promise for him to progress as a filmmaker and make meaningful stories that will widely resonate.