As a fan of The Neptunes and N.E.R.D, I was excited for Piece by Piece. The movie follows the life of Pharrell Williams and how he left the projects to become the multi-grammy-winning producer/artist that he is. If you are going to tell a story like that, why not make it in a format that is not only creative, like him, but also sets it apart from other documentaries? Piece by Piece is a fantastic look into the life of Pharrell told by using LEGOs to emphasize the creativity in his life.
I have discussed my penchant for documentaries before and there are a lot of great ones that have come out this year. Piece by Piece makes my top five list of documentaries I have seen so far this year. Being a fan, I already knew some of the aspects of his life. I knew about how he met Chad Hugo in school and how they created the Neptunes. Back in the day, I worked for a marketing and promotion company and remembered when N.O.R.E’s “Superthug” came out and it was my first time hearing something like that. I also remembered how their style pretty much took over the music charts and they were everywhere.
Piece by Piece felt like reliving history for me. I have seen the progression of Pharrell’s career and remember when a lot of these songs were released. It is also great for younger kids to get introduced to his music if they only know Pharrell as the guy who sings “Happy”. As I watched it with my kids, they heard songs that have been played in our home but did not know he produced them. It also felt great sitting in a packed theater listening to songs and seeing the crowd dance to the music in their seats.
Back to the movie. Through the use of LEGOs, director Morgan Neville can bring the audience into Pharrell’s mind and see music as he sees it. Pharrell talks about having synesthesia and Neville shows us what this means by having the music come to life in vibrant colors and images. We see how living his life like this makes him feel like a loner and a strange kid that other kids did not talk to. Pharrell gets support from his parents but it is his grandmother who is the first one to help him on his musical path.
The road to success for Pharrell and The Neptunes was not easy. There were many times when they did not know if they were going to make it. Being friends with Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and The Clipse they all boosted each other and worked together but it was not the success that they were looking for. This all changed when Teddy Riley brought his studio to town. After succeeding in a talent show, they were able to get into his studio and learn about the industry and how much hard work it takes. Pharrell tells the story about who he helped co-write Wrecks-n-Effects’s hit “Rump Shaker” and how they helped them on their way. It is pretty cool to see a LEGO version of the “Rump Shaker” video and all of the music videos of the songs they produced.
With the group’s meteoric rise, we also see the downfall. As the popularity of the producers started to grow, Pharrell started spreading himself thin by working on too many projects at once. When he was working with one artist on a song he would leave, design something for a brand, and return hours later to continue working with that artist. The use of music during all these moments emphasizes the broad spectrum of the group. The group worked with everyone! We get to see this work via conveyor belt-like sequences where groups are being zoomed through The Neptunes studio. Pharrell would be working on so many projects that it eventually led to the break-up of the Neptunes.
Music is a big part of this documentary and as I stated before it is fantastic to hear all of these songs being played on the big screen. It is also great to see how they are played to move the movie along. One of my favorite songs “Sooner or Later” is played at a pivotal point in the movie and I don’t think I will hear that song in the same way again. This moment also shows us how Pharrell started using his music to address issues in our world which led to working with Kendrick Lamar on “Alright”.
The current demise of the relationship between Pharrell and Chad is not discussed in the movie but I feel that decision was made to make this more of a feelgood documentary. The film does its best to show the audience that through hard work anything is possible but it will not be easy. Piece by Piece shows us how Pharrell and Chad hustled every movement until they finally got their big break. This documentary will have you dancing in your seats and feeling inspired by the time the final credits roll.
Final Thought: Piece by Piece gives you a fantastic look into the life and mind of Pharrell Williams by using LEGOs to emphasize his creativity. Fans of his production will find themselves dancing in their seats. Those not familiar with his work will walk away learning a few things about him and maybe finding out their favorite songs were produced by The Neptunes.
Kid-Friendly: The movie is made in LEGO but there are some adult moments within the documentary. There are a few “s” bombs dropped near the end of the movie. There are instances of drug use and sales but it is not overtly shown on the screen. The theme of working hard for your dreams is a great one for all kids to see.
Violence: The George Floyd protests are depicted to show when Pharrell started putting more messages in his music. Nothing intense is shown but we do see protesters on the street marching.
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.