Piece By Piece is certainly a unique movie of its kind: It’s a biopic of sorts told solely by Legos. Yes, you read that right. It’s told in Lego format. This might seem laughable on paper, but the execution has enough insight, charm, and heart to win us over.
The movie details Pharrell Williams’s life story. We get the obligatory narrative trappings, such as his upbringing in Virginia Beach and interviews with Williams, his family, and his friends about how hard he worked to become a musical prodigy. The movie also shows off his work with his band, The Neptunes.
Piece By Piece also dives deep into his Christian faith by showing us his close connection with his devoutly religious grandmother and his pastor, who gave him winsome advice on how to navigate his potentially thriving career.
Once Williams discusses how his career skyrocketed, we’re treated to other interviews with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, and Gwen Stefani. They each discuss their collaborations with Williams on various projects. There are other interviews with enormously successful artists, which I won’t reveal for curiosity’s sake.
Piece By Piece is a colorful portrait of one man’s journey to make a name for himself. It also chronicles the lives of those who supported him and those who tried to either stand in his way or let him know when he was on the wrong path.
Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville showcases Williams’ life story with dazzling animation that borders on cartoonish (no pun intended), but he always dials back to give it a realistic flair narratively so that the movie as a whole is still convincing.
The Lego treatment effectively illustrates how Williams philosophizes about life being like Legos in terms of its assembly. He theorizes that life is a design and that humans can change it to be jolly and energetic. Did I mention this totally works as a Lego movie?
Just like any film based on a musician, it only works if you happen to be a fan of their work. I’m not sure it’ll win converts, but Piece By Piece will truly satisfy Pharrell Williams’ fans. Or should I say, make them “Happy?”
Grade: A-
(Rated PG for language, some suggestive material and thematic elements.)
