Theodore May
Photos Editor
When the autobiographical film “Piece By Piece” was initially revealed, people were confused. Of all the ways the Grammy-winning producer could’ve told his story, why was LEGO his first choice? I was cautiously optimistic. Throughout his career, Pharrell Williams has taken several long shots, and many have paid off for him. “Piece by Piece,” unfortunately, is not one of them.
What is “Piece by Piece”? Despite what the marketing might have you believe, it’s not a biopic; instead, it’s an animated documentary exploring Pharrell’s life. Friends and family tell stories and anecdotes over scenes constructed with LEGO. The film uses this to great effect, pairing striking animated sequences alongside some great gags involving bricks. There’s definitely a novelty in seeing many well-known places and people recreated with bricks, their character remaining intact. Despite the amazing animation and art direction, this is the least stylistically interesting LEGO movie we’ve seen yet. The grit and grime seen in other films have disappeared, replaced by an overly polished aesthetic that makes certain locations seem unmoored.
Some visual nitpicks aside, the soundtrack is a major highlight. Pharrell created five new tracks for “Piece By Piece,” and each shows why he’s so renowned as a producer. With an intricate attention to rhythm and immaculately mastered vocals, they really make you believe in Pharrell’s musical genius. Including an assortment of other hits, from “Frontin’” to “Happy,” the music feels authentic in a way the rest of the movie struggles to replicate.
The main problem with this movie is how it falls short as a documentary. I left the theater knowing just as much about Pharrell as when I went in. The film provides a squeaky-clean version of his story, with any uncomfortable controversies erased. Outside of a couple scenes, we don’t see Pharrell’s struggles or personal failings, just his never-ending successes. An all-star cast stars alongside Pharrell, from Snoop Dogg to Gwen Stefani, but their appearances are limited to spouting platitudes about how he was always destined for greatness. It leads to the story lacking any sort of meaningful build-up. Without a narrative thread holding it together, the turn toward more serious topics in the third act feels unearned.
“Piece by Piece” also feels mistakenly targeted. Why is this a PG movie aimed at a younger audience? While the use of LEGO likely required certain concessions to keep it kid-friendly, those tradeoffs don’t feel worth it. Younger viewers won’t enjoy the slow pacing, and many scenes require previous knowledge on Pharrell to get the most out of it. At the same time, it doesn’t work for hip-hop fans either. It’s so overly sanitized that it doesn’t do justice to his or other artists’ stories. At one point a prominent character mentions he was “hustling,” and it shows him handing off cash to a person. Having to skirt around depicting drug deals and other decidedly non-PG activities leaves the documentary with a decidedly corporate edge.
Despite this, I think it would be wrong to characterize “Piece by Piece” as a total misfire. There are some amazing moments here, and I respect that everyone involved decided to take a unique approach to the musical biopic. Still, it’s a shame that one of hip-hop’s greatest luminaries will forever have this sanitized rendition as the movie telling his story.