You’ve never seen beavers more eager than Gavin and Billy, two young men from Dundee, Scotland, whose story is told in the comedy-drama “California Schemin’.” What they’re eager for is fame and legitimacy.
Hip-hop obsessed since the cradle (or so it seems) and sufficiently unplugged that they make their calls to record labels from pay phone booths, Gavin (Seamus McLean Ross) and Billy (Samuel Bottomley) soon realize that nobody in the United Kingdom in the early 2000s is interested in their homegrown talents. So they come up with the idea to pose as Angelenos who’ve been vacationing in Europe.
They practice their American accents, in one of the film’s most amusing scenes, by repeating pop culture catchphrases to each other, including “Stifler’s mom,” “Show me the money,” and “We were on a break!” Their act doesn’t impress a fatuous executive played in a funny cameo by James Corden, but they are not dissuaded. They soon find themselves having to prove their marketability to a steely executive — played by James McAvoy, who also directed the picture — and an MTV audience. Their main advocate is Tessa, a record label talent scout (Rebekah Murrell) who believes in the duo’s talent — and their story.
In the film, which is based on a true story, Billy finds himself increasingly fraught about their subterfuge, while Gavin keeps digging at almost every turn. Mary, Billy’s girlfriend, (Lucy Halliday), almost manages to keep a cool head throughout. While the narrative tends to the predictable, the performers are appealing, and McAvoy’s sardonic depiction of his home turf is tinged with exasperated affection.
California Schemin’ Rated R for language and plenty of it. Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes. In theaters.
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