PIECE BY PIECE (APPLE TV+) (2024)

SYNOPSIS: Piece by Piece is a unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams. Told through the lens of LEGO® animation, turn up the volume on your imagination and witness the evolution of one of music's most innovative minds.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Compared to The Lego Movie (2014) or The Lego Batman Movie (2017), Piece By Piece is a Lego-themed film that simply came and went, ending up as a clear commercial failure. In other words, no one really bothered to check this out.

Piece By Piece is a biography of American songwriter-producer Pharrell Williams told entirely in Lego form. The film is brought to life by filmmaker Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom), who also appears onscreen as an interviewer. Its colourful animation is filled with talking heads such as Timbaland and Missy Elliott, recounting their childhood memories and professional collaborations with Williams. The meta-documentary format allows a steady stream of famous faces, including Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani and Pusha T, each popping up briefly to offer their sound bites about working with the talented musician.

Interestingly, the film carries a more uplifting message than expected, focusing on an aimless young Williams growing up in the Atlantis housing projects while struggling academically. His grandmother encouraged him to pursue what he loved, a turning point that eventually led Williams and his childhood friend Chad Hugo to form The Neptunes. Their talent soon caught the attention of famed record producer Teddy Riley, and the rest, as they say, is history.

This familiar rags-to-riches, dreams-come-true narrative certainly looks and sounds more attractive when presented through dynamic, colourful Lego animation. The Lego Group clearly played an active role in the production, even creating new “moulds” and “bricks” specifically for the film.

Still, as a children-friendly title, Piece By Piece avoids the messier or more controversial aspects of Williams’ life and career. We never learn much about the disputes between Williams and Hugo, nor how Williams seemingly became an overnight fashion designer for a luxury fashion house. What the film does offer is the inspiration behind his hit song “Happy,” along with a serious Black Lives Matter message included for good measure.

No offence to anyone, but it is hard not to question why Pharrell Williams warranted a Lego movie of his own in the first place. Is he really that iconic? While the soundtrack is undeniably infectious and the Lego gimmick visually impressive, the film itself feels lost in the crowd. Adults are unlikely to bother checking out a Lego-fied Williams, while children would rather sing along to “Happy” than learn about the man behind the tune.

This sense of being neither here nor there ultimately explains why Piece By Piece failed to make its budget back.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee