Trust Pharrell Williams to come up with something as barmy as this. Never mind ear-worming us to death with ‘Happy’ and Daft Punk-collab ‘Get Lucky’, the American singer-songwriter-producer has lit another spark of genius. Piece By Piece is a documentary-slash-biopic of Pharrell’s life, all cast in LEGO. From the moment you see a plastic version of the super-producer sit down for an interview with the equally brick-like director Morgan Neville, it’s clear this is a truly WTF idea.
Of course, the famed plastic toy that originated in Denmark is no stranger to cinema, beginning with 2014’s comedic adventure The LEGO Movie. But a documentary about a musician? Now that is a wild idea. You might even say Williams has conjured a new form of non-fiction film. No archive footage available? No matter. Instead, recollections of Williams’ early life in Virginia Beach, for example, are vividly brought to life in brick-form.
Neville, who made 2013’s 20 Feet From Stardom, about the world of backing singers, and 2018’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor? – on wholesome TV personality Fred Rogers – is clearly no stranger to either the music industry or American icons. And he’s entirely at ease here, steering Williams through his backstory, both personally and professionally, which began in earnest when he happened to attend school with a young Timbaland and Missy Elliott.
The early years are arguably the most intriguing. R&B über-producer Teddy Riley opens a studio, by chance, close to Williams’ school and, after some pressure, puts on a local talent show. There The Neptunes – the duo formed by Williams and Chad Hugo – get their big break. All of this helps show that Pharrell’s ride wasn’t entirely minted in gold from the very beginning; luck and hard work played their parts.
Talking heads include collaborators such as Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Jay Z and a hilarious Snoop Dogg, all re-invented as LEGO characters. But one of the real innovations comes anytime Williams talks about music. His “beats” are imagined in colourful three-dimensional LEGO form, pulsating orbs that move to the sound of his latest musical cue. It’s a very clever way of expressing the intangible beauty of music.
In truth, Pharrell’s rags-to-riches story isn’t exactly flooded with revelations. The only real surprise is that he struggled with the success of ‘Happy’. When he becomes teary-eyed, it’s hard to get too emotional – maybe because it’s a little strange watching a LEGO figure emote. But Neville’s film is so forward-thinking, it’s easy to forgive the more superficial aspects of the production.
Driven by studio Pure Imagination, the animation is beautiful. When a drink is poured, for example, little LEGO nuggets cascade from the cup, emulating droplets of liquid. It’s touches like these that show the trademark LEGO humour is very much intact in Neville’s film, even if Pharrell’s life story doesn’t exactly lend itself to a laugh-a-minute. Whether this is a one-off or not, you have to applaud the bravery in making a LEGO-crafted documentary. For sure, you’ll leave the cinema happy.
Details
- Director: Morgan Neville
- Release date: November 8 (in cinemas)