Piece By Piece Review: Pharrell Williams’ LEGO Movie Is A Vivid, Playful Take On A Documentary That’s Little Too Plastic

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As a connoisseur of both LEGO creations and the vibrant world of hip-hop and pop, I must say that “Piece By Piece” is a delightful blend of these two realms, albeit one that could have benefited from a touch more substance.

From The LEGO Movie franchise, to its network television competition series, to the popular LEGO video games and physical sets themselves, the toy company has proved that just about anything can be constructed with its pieces. The latest big project from LEGO is one of its most ambitious and out of the box: a LEGO documentary about the life of Pharrell Williams called Piece By Piece. The latest LEGO movie is certainly well imagined and constructed, but it also ultimately suffers from plastic toys being unable to tell a narrative with the same depth as live action.

Piece By Piece

As a music enthusiast, I’m eagerly counting down the days until October 11, 2024, when the movie I can hardly wait for, directed by Morgan Neville, hits the silver screen. This film, co-written by Jason Zeldes, Aaron Wickenden, and Oscar Vazquez, promises to be a musical extravaganza featuring some of my favorite artists like Pharrell Williams, Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg.

Almost everyone is familiar with Pharrell Williams as the creator and singer behind popular tunes like “Lucky” and “Happy.” However, he’s also one of the most impactful music producers of the 21st century. His work has been instrumental in producing numerous chart-topping songs for other artists, including Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” as well as hits from Jay-Z, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Pusha T, and Britney Spears. So, what made Williams such a coveted name in the realms of hip-hop and pop music? The documentary Piece By Piece chronicles his journey to success so far.

Instead of featuring traditional interview segments with talking heads like most documentaries do, this movie tells its story entirely through Pharrell’s character, a LEGO minifig, narrating his life in an interview with the film’s director Morgan Neville. Known for his Academy Award-winning documentaries such as “20 Feet From Stardom” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” along with exploring the lives of Anthony Bourdain and Mickey Mouse in recent works, Neville takes a unique approach to storytelling here. The film’s entertainment value is enhanced by the artistic animation possible with LEGO pieces, yet it leaves one wondering if there are some untold details lurking unnoticed somewhere.

The new LEGO Movie is very much a music documentary about Pharrell, and that never stops feeling random for the whole movie.

It’s possible that many families will walk into Piece By Piece, thinking it’s just another LEGO movie, only to find themselves puzzled as they sit through a 93-minute film about the life and times of Pharrell Williams, a renowned musician known for his catchy pop tunes from the early 2000s. Piece By Piece seems to want to do two things: offer an exciting LEGO movie experience while also providing an engaging documentary about the music industry through Pharrell’s perspective. However, because these two elements often don’t align smoothly, neither aspect fully achieves the greatness it aspires to. Regrettably, this leads Piece By Piece to lean more towards using gimmicks than intended, particularly when Pharrell tries to connect the story by suggesting that “life is like a LEGO set” early on.

Piece by Piece follows a methodical exploration of Pharrell’s life journey, touching upon key milestones, through primary conversations with Pharrell himself as well as other influential figures in the music industry. The narrative traces his humble beginnings in Virginia Beach to his meteoric rise in the early ’00s, mingling with a plethora of high-profile individuals. Unlike the other LEGO movies we’re familiar with, this one eschews a traditional narrative structure with dialogue, instead relying on an interview format due to its unique presentation style.

In Piece By Piece, the imaginative freedom in visual enhancement leads Pharrell’s LEGO figure on incredible journeys, from the ocean depths to the cosmos, and even transforming Snoop Dogg into a LEGO canine. However, the partnership between LEGO and Pharrell lacks a unifying thread, and while it’s fun, it doesn’t always create a strongly cohesive or deeply moving narrative.

Piece By Piece finds imaginative ways to tell the story of Pharrell Williams’ rise as a prominent music producer with LEGO pieces.

Regardless of whether you’re already a fan or not, watching the Pharrell Williams LEGO movie offers an opportunity to delve into his origins and journey to fame filled with highs and lows. What makes it truly captivating is the imaginative approach taken by the LEGO filmmaking team in narrating Pharrell’s story using their distinctive pieces. It’s a delightful experience to witness the hip-hop and pop industry depicted through the lens of LEGO.

Among the many striking aspects of the documentary “Piece By Piece,” it’s the innovative use of LEGO that truly stands out. From the opening scene where a miniature LEGO Pharrell is swimming underwater, referencing his early hip hop group The Neptunes and Neptune’s kingdom, to the closing scenes showcasing a glowing LEGO track creation, this documentary pushes boundaries in the realm of biopics and non-fiction filmmaking. For instance, Teddy Riley’s arrival in Pharrell’s hometown, Virginia Beach, is depicted as a floating recording studio that descends upon the beach town, which would be more challenging to pull off in live action. Similarly, the process of Pharrell crafting and selling a hit track is made captivating through the use of a glowing LEGO piece, adding an element of magic and simplicity that might not translate as well in reality.

As fun as it is, Piece By Piece loses some depth being packaged in LEGO.

In essence, there’s a significant absence when learning from a beloved musician like Pharrell, as we miss out on personal connections such as eye contact, voice inflections during high notes, and facial expressions conveying deep emotions as they share their life’s triumphs and struggles. These elements, which would have enriched our understanding of ‘Piece By Piece’, are conspicuously absent since we’re dealing with a minifigure of him, telling the entire movie’s story. Though LEGO minifigs are charming, their limited emotive abilities can become less expressive as the narrative delves into Pharrell’s career.

The film presents a cleaned-up version of Pharrell’s life story, leaving out the genuine grit and struggles often found in an artist’s success journey. While the LEGO adaptation is enjoyable, it might have benefited from some real-life elements to make it more relatable and grounded. For instance, incorporating actual appearances by Pharrell and his peers could have enhanced the film, as it did with Will Ferrell in The LEGO Movie.

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2024-10-10 21:07