Pharrell Williams has never been one to stand in line with any of his contemporaries, no matter which of his many ventures it happens to be. When, on Jan. 26, 2024, he announced that his upcoming biopic would be completely animated in Lego, it was everything that those who have followed the singer, superproducer, and fashion designer’s 25-year career, had come to expect from him.
“Piece by Piece,” released on Oct. 11, 2024, tells the story of Williams’ musical journey with his band N.E.R.D., production duo “the Neptunes,” and his solo career, with a colorful and outlandish Lego backdrop. The story is largely told through an interview between Williams and director Morgan Neville as a guide for the storyline, with visual recreations of said events intermixed throughout the biopic.
Not even five minutes into the movie it becomes overwhelmingly apparent why Williams’ story lends itself so well to a Lego depiction. First off, William has always been a vibrant individual. He was the reason the bright colors of Bape and his own brands, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream, dominated the 2000s streetwear scene. Williams channels this history by utilizing the childlike characteristics of these building blocks to bring life to the moments that built his career.
Because the movie exists in a fictitious Lego world, it is not limited in storytelling by the lack of video footage in the same way documentaries are. The audience gets to see Williams performing at his high school talent show, pitching his music to label executives, and the process of making chart topping songs, all with the signature Lego flare on top.
However, at some points the depiction of Williams and others as Lego characters prevents emotion from coming through effectively. In the third leg of the film, Williams finds himself in a creative rut; chasing the success of his prior hits, he loses the forward thinking mentality that got him to where he was. It is a heartfelt moment that is difficult to take seriously when you see a Lego Williams waddling around with Lego tears falling from his eyes. Emotion is not uncommon in Lego movies—the Lego Batman Movie has heartfelt moments—but it is just out of place in this movie.
That is not to take away from the overall experience of the film; at its high points it is an incredibly fun watch. The performances with Daft Punk, the filming of the iconic “Frontin’” music video, and his first interaction with Snoop Dogg are all examples of a masterclass in visual storytelling. The movie gives a glimpse at what some of the biggest faces of pop culture look like as minifigures, but at no point does anyone make a cameo without advancing the plot in some way; even the Minions make a meaningful appearance.
Now it would do a great disservice to not mention the soundtrack which consists not only of songs Williams sang on or produced, but also some of the songs he cites as most formative to his taste. “As” by Stevie Wonder lends itself to a memorable scene during Williams’ youth as he drops the needle on the record, sits in front of a set of speakers, and is swept into a kaleidoscopic collection of colors.
But of course the soundtrack would not be complete without the hits. “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar, “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stafani, “Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg, as well as any other smash hit produced by Williams makes an appearance in the film.
Overall, it is a movie great for casual watch. It encapsulates Williams’ life in a fun and effective way over just 93 minutes of runtime. At no point does it seem to drag on with exposition or backstory; it simply gets to the point and moves on. This allows the film to touch on nearly every aspect of his life a longtime fan would know about. The movie is definitely angled toward a younger audience, with a strong focus on creativity and imagination, which is intentionally designed to inspire kids to think outside the box. However, it has enough to make all ages leaving the theater satisfied.
Since the movie only grossed $10 million on a $16 million budget, it is not likely that there will be more of these documentaries any time soon. But, not every biopic has to be in Lego. This movie should serve as a wake-up call for such a formulaic industry to do something different, a message Williams has pushed his entire career.
