This year’s Toronto International Film Festival is full of prominent actors making their directorial debuts, from Scarlett Johansson to Euphoria‘s Maude Apatow. Among this class is James McAvoy, who arrived in Toronto this weekend to unveil his new movie California Schemin’. Based on a true story, the film is an ode to McAvoy’s home country of Scotland, and it’s a blast.

California Schemin’ dramatizes the story of Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd (played here by Séamus McLean Ross and Samuel Bottomley, respectively), two aspiring rappers from Scotland who, after facing discrimination due to their thick accents, fooled the music industry into believing they were from California instead. It’s the kind of eccentric true story that seems tailor-made for a movie, and McAvoy brings it to life with plenty of high-spirited energy.

When we first meet them, Gavin is almost too shy to get through all of his verses, and Billy remains unflappably supportive. The two work the same ᴅᴇᴀᴅ-end job as telemarketers alongside Billy’s girlfriend Mary (Lucy Halliday), and Gavin frequently calls record labels in the hopes of getting signed. However, the British labels are often put off by his thick accent, and it only gets more pointed when the pair attend an in-person audition in London and get cruelly laughed out of the room.

Their luck changes when Gavin, inspired by Billy’s tactics at work, tries on an American accent when calling a label. Even though he has little to offer beyond his voice, it gets their foot in the door, and before long, they’re cozying up with record execs and making music – all while claiming they hail from Los Angeles.

California Schemin’s Two Leads Give Strong, Star-Making Performances

California Schemin’ then depicts the boys’ meteoric rise as the group Silibil N’ Brains, showing how quickly fame and money got to the both of them. It seems McAvoy and screenwriters Archie Thomson and Elaine Gracie are more interested in the impact the lie had on their friendship and the people around them, a meaty conflict to explore.

While Billy soon realizes the danger that they’re in and longs to reconnect with Mary, Gavin gets high on the success – both figuratively and literally. Ross really gets to show his star potential here. Initially the more reserved of the two boys, he takes on a manic edge as he seeks to hold onto his newfound fame by any means necessary.

Ross becomes fascinatingly dark in these scenes, which allows him to play off Bottomley’s earnest nature perfectly. We fully buy into their friendship, and so when it all begins to fall apart, we feel the betrayal keenly. This is due to both Ross and Bottomley’s chemistry, and the old camcorder footage McAvoy weaves into the early portion of the movie, which, as we learn during the credits, draws from the real Bain and Boyd’s home movies.

James McAvoy Brings A Clear Sense Of Idenтιтy To California Schemin’

It feels both nostalgic and charmingly down-to-earth, highlighting their humble origins to contrast with the privileged world they enter. In general, McAvoy seems to be drawing from his own upbringing in Scotland to shape the visual style of California Schemin’, and it pays off, fully immersing the audience in the boys’ world.

McAvoy has been open about how insistent he was on making his directing debut intrinsically Scottish, and it’s fascinating to see how California Schemin’ grapples with the country’s idenтιтy. Gavin and Billy’s brutal rejection based solely on how they speak is a sobering moment, and this thread only gets more compelling when it’s revealed that the head of their new record label is also Scottish (played by McAvoy himself).

At the same time, the movie is very aware that these are two white boys trying to make it as rappers, so it’s not the most drastic kind of discrimination out there. McAvoy does a good job acknowledging the absurdity of their position while also displaying plenty of hometown pride and affection.

Perhaps the biggest shortcoming of California Schemin’ is the ending, which is tied up a bit too neatly considering how messy Gavin and Billy’s downfall is. Everything comes to a close not long after the boys’ intense final confrontation, so the overall impact of this devastation is lessened.

Still, this is a strong directorial debut for McAvoy, with a compelling story, plenty of humor, and a well-rounded supporting cast. Halliday’s Mary is a standout, exuding warmth and avoiding what could be a very stereotypical role. Rebekah Murrell is also great as Tessa, the burgeoning music exec who discovers the boys.

Those not familiar with Bain and Boyd’s story will likely be pulled in by the eye-catching premise, though it seems the movie does take a fair amount of liberties and dramatizes things considerably. Of course, we expect nothing less than pure drama for the true stories that make it to the big screen, and California Schemin’ has plenty of that.

California Schemin’ premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.