Directed by: Morgan Neville
Written by: Morgan Neville, Jason Zeldes,
Aaron Wickenden and Oscar Vazquez
Run Time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Most, if not all documentaries about musicians follow a very similar formula, and it’s easy to see why they often result in success. Following an artist wanting to reach a goal and documenting the journey they take to achieving it is a relatable way to engage an audience. However, a unique selling point is always a bonus, so why not animate it entirely in the style of LEGO? Well, this is the question posed by new music documentary and LEGO amalgamation Piece by Piece, an original idea conceived by the film’s subject and producer, Pharrell Williams.
Originally announced to much bewilderment, Pharrell clarifies to the film’s director Morgan Neville in the opening scene that he wants to present his life in a format just as seemingly unfitting as he feels the world of showbiz is.
Moving forward Piece by Piece goes on to explore Pharrell’s childhood in Virginia Beach as he discovers his love for music and makes connections in high school with Clipse rappers Pusha T and No Malice, plus fellow 2000s hip-hop legends Missy Elliott and Timbaland. Longtime collaborator Chad Hugo also appears, who together with Pharrell formed producing/songwriting duo The Neptunes, which would see their unique production style getting them noticed by record executives and music stars alike.
Pharrell is arguably one of the most prolific figures in recent music history, especially in the 2000s. And Piece By Piece is fully aware of this, taking audiences through his career, often via montages of songs reminding viewers just how many hits he’s been responsible for. Accompanying these sequences are an array of cameos from LEGO versions of the stars Pharrell has worked with over the years, giving their own input on how he helped make some of their most well-known songs.
Whilst these moments are often highly entertaining, especially for fans of hip-hop and pop music, the film can become quite repetitive with multiple scenes of celebrities congratulating Pharrell for helping boost their popularity and in turn, his ego. Moreover, a lot of the film feels like it glosses over much of Pharrell’s life, focusing more on his success than his struggles, leading to a rather sanitised portrayal – often the case when music documentaries are pitched by the subjects themselves, rather than the filmmakers behind them.
Thankfully, Neville’s direction doesn’t let this get in the way of an otherwise vibrant and energetic experience, mainly thanks to the film’s animation. The LEGO style is not only used as a novelty to disguise the film’s more generic elements, but also for visual comedy which allows it to be utilised to its fullest potential. From the film’s opening logos we’re treated to many kaleidoscopic explosions of colour as we dive inside Pharrell’s mind, along with plenty of visual gags similar to those in Phil Lord & Christopher Miller’s The Lego Movie (2014).
It’s a smart way to appeal to a wide audience, especially younger children who may become interested in the music industry as a result, but the wide range of humour on display will appeal to anyone, music nerd or not. One joke in particular involving Snoop Dogg and the film’s age rating is among the comedic highlights of the year.
At a mere 93 minutes Piece by Piece breezes by thanks to its mostly great pacing and gleeful tone, which makes for a surprise when things take a more serious turn in the film’s third act. There are some interesting individual sequences here, such as one that uses Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ to represent Pharrell’s resurgence after a creative slump –likely the closest we’ll ever get to an actual Daft Punk reunion. However, the way these scenes transition into each other feels disjointed, with the film moving from stories such as how ‘Happy’ from the Despicable Me 2 (2013) soundtrack was inspired by Pharrell’s son, to his collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, ‘Alright’ being used in the Black Lives Matter movement. While these scenes (especially the latter) are undoubtedly powerful on their own, the juxtaposition between them does feel jarring.
Nevertheless, the film’s sense of optimism stays present throughout the runtime, and with its PG rating it prevents proceedings becoming too heavy or alienating for any potential younger audience. But even as an adult, it’s hard not to be drawn in by Piece by Piece’s toe-tapping soundtrack, colourful visual aesthetic and abundance of appearances from much-loved musicians. It may not break any new ground for the music documentary format, even with the utilisation of its LEGO animated style, but it’s a solid if sanitised encapsulation of early 21st century mainstream music. It might even leave you feeling like a room without a roof.
Star Rating: ★ ★ ★
Not Too Loud 
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