“Just be open.” These words, spoken by Pharrell Williams to director Morgan Neville when pitching his idea for a LEGO biopic, are the words you need to hear when experiencing Piece by Piece in theaters. The LEGO biopic hit the big screens on October 11th, 2024 and it gained general public interest with LEGO minifigures of its star-studded cast. Initially, I knew little of Pharrell Williams’ life and career, so I felt uncertain about how engaged I would be when going to see the film for myself. However, the uniqueness of telling his life story through LEGO was not lost on me, and I knew that at the very least it was going to be an entertaining watch. Having now seen the film, I realize that there’s much more to Piece by Piece than just another “entertaining watch.”
Right from the start, this documentary exceeded my expectations. I anticipated a biopic similar to Bohemian Rhapsody or Rocketman, with Williams’ life being portrayed as a story, and my prior experience with LEGO films definitely reinforced that. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by a documentary narrated by Williams himself, reflecting on his experiences. The film features interviews and anecdotes from notable artists like Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, and Kendrick Lamar (among many other big names), which breathe a new life into the classic documentary style we already know. Their insights about Pharrell’s influence on their careers lend credibility to his story. This is essential when relaying real life events, as he could be perceived as an unreliable narrator, since he is telling his own life story through his own eyes. While his film is undeniably inspiring, it’s important to recognize that he controls what the audience sees of him and may choose to showcase certain aspects of himself over others. This is evident in the vague references to strained relationships in his career, such as his ongoing disputes with childhood friend and collaborator Chad Hugo, which receive little attention in the film.
Rather than summarize Pharrell Williams’ life story, I’ll note that the film follows a familiar arc seen in many musician biopics: a unique individual from a small town works hard to achieve recognition, rises to fame, faces challenges, and ultimately rediscovers what truly matters to them. Without spoiling too much for those who want to go watch the movie, Williams touches on themes of personal growth, legacy, creativity, and perseverance through his experiences, using them to fuel his true passion: inspiring others. In many interviews for media outlets such as Apple Music and the Today Show, Pharrell Williams has gone on record stating that the documentary was only created because his agent was pushing him to make a biopic. Initially, he had no interest in the idea, but he got on board once he was given complete creative freedom with how to present his story.
Pharrell’s use of LEGO makes for one of the most compelling aspects of Piece by Piece. I first saw the trailer for this movie in the theaters with friends and family, and after we left everyone had discussed their confusion with that artistic choice. While I thought the choice to use LEGO was cool and unique, I ultimately agreed. However, now that I have seen the film, the reasoning behind it is clear. What many of us may not know is that Williams credits much of his creative genius to his synesthesia, a neurological condition that allows him to physically picture sounds. This connection between his way of creating music and building with LEGO bricks was honestly super cool to put together, and entertaining to watch.
Additionally, Pharrell pushes the boundaries of what we’ve come to expect from LEGO. Having been a prominent figure in hip hop, R&B, and pop culture during the 90s and 2000s, he incorporates aspects that challenge the family-friendly image typically associated with the brand. Witnessing LEGO minifigures curse and occasionally become obscured by “PG spray” (we all know what that really means, don’t we?) was, without a doubt, a new experience to see on the big screen. And despite his vagueness with some topics, Williams does acknowledge significant aspects to his life, such as his Christian faith and the Black Lives Matter movement—subjects not previously explored in LEGO form.Overall, the creative vision behind Piece by Piece is impressive and, in the end, enjoyable. It definitely seems kind of self-indulgent at times, but it’s still cool to gain a bit of insight into how some of Williams’ major hits were created. The film retains some of the visually comedic moments we expect from LEGO movies while ensuring that Pharrell’s ultimate goal—to inspire his audience to build their dreams, piece by piece—is accomplished.
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