Over the years LEGO has extended beyond physical building and constructed itself a cinematic universe that includes such figures as Batman, Scooby-Doo, and the Ninjago range. But what about a musical documentary about a multi-faceted performer who’s had his unique hands over everything from hard rock and nu metal to mainstream pop and the Despicable Me series?
There’s a first time for everything, and breaking the conventions for how stories should be told feels perfectly on brand for someone such as Pharrell Williams, who throws his full support and emotionality behind Piece By Piece, a surprisingly sincere and well-constructed documentary of sorts, brought to life by Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom).
Whilst if you take away the LEGO-inspired visuals you are left with something of a standard “talking heads” documentary, the story being told is no less effective, and though Pharrell’s music has crossed over to popular culture in the most invasive of manners – the song “Happy” and its inclusion in the Despicable Me series felt almost like an attack during its height of popularity – the LEGO style assists in his story being accessible to younger audiences who may not have entirely cared had this been live-action; outside of “Happy“, the majority of Pharrell’s catalogue is decidedly mature, with even his collaborations with mainstream pop artists like Justin Timberlake (“Like I Love You“), Gwen Stefani (“Hollaback Girl“) and Britney Spears (“I’m A Slave 4 U“) being painted with more mature, unconventional, even profane strokes.
The aforementioned Timberlake and Stefani are also on hand here to lend their voices and LEGO likeness to comment on their history with Pharrell, with fellow uber producer Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg contributing to the film’s cause further as they help paint the picture of who Pharrell was as an inspiring artist in 1990s Virginia, to the successful hybrid performer-cum-producer we know him as now. It’s their inclusions and how excitable they are in recounting their interactions with Pharrell that Piece By Piece feels at its most alive, with the visuals outright popping on screen as music is expressed as colour during his childhood synesthesia.
Perhaps less successful, though noble in its intent, is the inclusion of the Black Lives Matter movement, which feels borderline inappropriate being presented in the format of a toy. And with the artist himself being heavily involved in the production of the film, it makes sense that any overt negativity be avoided, with the ongoing legal battle between himself and his Neptunes co-producer Chad Hugo earning no reference (Williams has since confirmed the duo aren’t on speaking terms), and such controversies as that which surrounded the song “Blurred Lines”, which he produced for singer Robin Thicke, also bypassed, despite the song appearing briefly; for the uninitiated, the contention around the song related to Thicke’s behaviour on set, a lawsuit against the song and its apparent likeness to a Marvin Gaye record, and the rape culture glorification it catered to.
Such nastiness is at odds with the friendly design aesthetic the film adheres to, and had this been more conventional it perhaps would feel more correct to include such, but Pharrell’s tale is all about his rise and an inspirational mentality. Young children, especially those of different races, who feel like their creativity may be stifled will absolutely find a kindred spirit in Piece By Piece, and, even if there’s no justification to why LEGO needed to be the visual standpoint here, it’s difficult to deny such an impact and what that could give way to going forward in a creative space.
Ultimately an unconventional documentary for an unconventional artist, Piece By Piece is a celebratory, well, piece that gets away with not adhering to a warts-and-all structure due to its exciting individuality. We may wish to see more of who Pharrell Williams is, but the pieces we get of him are enough for any fan to indulge in his artistry.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Piece By Piece is screening in Australian theatres from December 5th, 2024.
