When you think about it, the combination of the world ofLEGOsand a music biopic makes a lot of sense. They both share a relationship where imagination is at the core, and some stacking of colorful blocks and soundscapes is involved in making something into a distinguishable picture. Sometimes, you make a replica of the cover on the box; other times (like frequently in my case), you create something entirely different.
In that respect, you can see whyPharell Williamsand directorMorgan Neville opted for a LEGO-styleinterview retrospective about the singer/producer/fashion designer extraordinaire inPiece by Piece.It’s acolorful and imaginativeformat not bound by conventional storytelling, which is why it’s a shame thatPiece by Pieceultimatelybecomes a very traditional, ‘follow your dreams’ type movie, and never really dives deeply into who Pharrell is, what he believes, and why you should care. But at least it looks and sounds great.
Limitless Animation with a Measured Story
Piece by Piece
LEGO bricks tell the life story of singer/songwriter and record producer Pharrell Williams – from his childhood in Virginia to his success in the music and fashion industry.
Despite how bountiful this template is, Neville decides to keep deeper excavations into Williams’ motivations and struggles at a measured distance. We get to see the rise, the fall, the onset of ego, and the reclamation of purpose. However,things move on too quickly to understand the subject’s complexitiesbecause the film chooses to chronicle Pharrell’s many accomplishments instead, sometimes feeling like a vanity project.
Before you get to the endless amount of collaborations and hits, you must first understand where Williams came from and the circumstances that molded him into the virtuoso he’s become. After a brief introduction to his wife Helen and his two children,LEGO versions of Williams and Neville sit down in a behind-the-scenes-like setting to go into the story. The beginning ofPiece by Pieceis where the metaphorical references combined with the animation show off why someone would engage in this biopic style.
Best Biopics Ever Made, Ranked
The silver screen is a faithful servant to good biographical films, as the genre is undisputedly the darling of both the Academy Awards and Hollywood.
When Pharrell speaks about his hometown of Virginia Beach and living in the Atlantis projects, it’s vibrant and colorful, complete with the appearance of the Roman god of the Sea, Neptune. Pharrell discusses his synesthesia, and upon listening to Stevie Wonder’s 1976 classic, “I Wish,”the audience gets to see the music come to life like he does. Though if you’re expecting the LEGO aesthetic to insinuate that it’s a child-friendly film, be warned that there’s profanity, women dancing in bikinis, references to marijuana, and more.
A Cavalcade of Cameos & Pharrell’s Hits
From there, it’s a who’s-who of prominent figures instrumental in Pharrell’s musical and personal upbringing. Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and Pusha T appear early as they chronicle developing their musical sounds together. We also get to see his friendship/partnership with Chad Hugo, the beginning of The Neptunes, and the lengths they had to go to get noticed in a place that wasn’t known as a musical epicenter.The “against-all-odds” adage is strong withinPiece by Pieceand perhaps looks to carry the film beyond any more profound, extensive questions.
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If you’re a fan of Williams or any of his projects, you’ll recognize most of the music the film shows he had a hand in making. Appearances and small discussions happen with theLEGO-fied versions of Jay-Z, N.O.R.E., Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, and more. With the story of his rise to prominence, it’s fun to go down memory lane and relive all these classic songs and videos within this blocky visual style, like “Hollaback Girl,” “Rockstar,” and “Frontin.”
The LEGO Biopic Sticks to the Script
The film’s biggest shortcoming is the way it avoids delving deeperinto any interesting psychological, cultural, or personal details. It doesn’t look at Pharrell’s thoughts, only skimming the surface of the artist. At one point, he discusses his fear of commitment concerning the early days of his relationship, and it just slides off the film, which leaves the subject alone.Piece by Pieceapproaches the discussion of Blackness and how Pharrell sees himself in relation to the culture, especially after the artist took notice of the BLM protests in 2020, but immediately makes a U-turn and instead focuses on his smash hit forDespicable Me 2, “Happy.”
Related:Does Pharell Really Need Two Biopics in Two Years?
It’s surprising just how resistantPiece by Pieceis to diving into anything beyond the confines of a fluffy biopic, which is odd considering its bold LEGO aesthetic. If you are going to radically change and expand the format of a biopic, why stick to the script and not change the content?Any thought-provoking theme or deeply personal revelation gets painted with a broad brushand generally sidelined. Ultimately, this biopic feels like it’s caught between worlds, one that’s creative and vibrant, and one that’s blandly traditional.
Piece by Piecewas screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and you can find more information here. Focus Features will distribute the film in the U.S. in theaters on Oct. 11.
