by Charles Kirkland, Jr.
The life of singer and producer Pharrell Williams is told through LEGO pieces in this animated feature debut from Morgan Neville, featuring the voices of Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, and many more.
Once upon a time, in southeastern Virginia, a young man cultivates a love for music and after some prodding from his grandmother, embarks on an unbelievable journey in the world of the music business.
After an unbelievable and remarkable start in the music business, young Pharrell Williams finds himself in a lurch. When nobody wants to give him a shot as a singer and performer, Pharrell pivots to producing, giving him new fuel that blasts him into orbit, working with artists like Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg, all also presented in LEGO form and who talk about Pharrell’s unique vision and golden touch. But, being in the stratosphere doesn’t come without a cost.
Written by Morgan Neville, Oscar Vazquez, Aaron Wickenden, and Jason Zeldes, Piece By Piece takes the viewers through Pharrell’s spirited upbringing in Virginia, his first job at a record label, the start of iconic production duo The Neptunes with Chad Hugo, the formation of the band N.E.R.D., and beyond. The film is the animated feature debut by Oscar-winning documentarian Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom, Won’t You Be My Neighbor).
The idea of creating a documentary animated completely through Lego first seems to be ridiculous. Although The Lego Movie and many others in the Lego universe are immensely popular films, they are narratives that allow for creativity and imagination. It doesn’t seem like a documentary story about a musician and artist would work. Until you watch it.
Lego and Pharrell are the perfect combination. From the early beginnings of the movie where Pharrell shares that he has synesthesia which allows him to see music in colors (a condition seen in the movie Música earlier this year), it makes perfect sense to create this film in Lego animation. The colors and creativity of Lego blocks are the perfect way to illustrate Pharrell’s ability to combine music beats and samples to create music.
Pharrell’s story is very inspirational and aspirational. His eclectic and electric musical influences are reflective of the varied and diverse sources of inspiration in his life. From his classmates and cohorts in the Virginia Beach area including Missy Elliot and Timbaland to Carl Sagan to the pastor of his Baptist church and even his grandmother, Pharrell shares and shows the importance and relevance of every one of his colleagues and contemporaries in making him the artist that he is.
Like the Luther Vandross documentary, Luther: Never Too Much, Piece By Piece tells the audience of many known and unknown facts about the career of Pharrell and his best friend, Chad Hugo. Of course, since the film is about him and his music, the soundtrack is a fan-fest of hits leading up to one of his biggest hits “Happy” and beyond. Morgan Neville excels in this experiment that will challenge both Documentary of the Year and Animated Film of the Year.
After being screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, Piece By Piece has been rated PG for language, some suggestive material, and thematic elements.
Piece By Piece can be seen in theaters starting October 11, 2024.
Grade: A-