In this world, there are two everlasting truths: LEGO and hip hop are both amazing. Fortunately for avid Death Star constructors and “FE!N” fanatics, they can finally have their (LEGO) cake and eat it too. Pharrell Williams’ biopic “Piece by Piece” tells the renowned musical savant’s story through none other than LEGO.
Accompanied by other artists like Kendrik Lamar, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani and even Snoop Dogg, Williams created an unprecedented, unforgettable movie.
Brick by brick, Pharrell Williams ingeniously breaks down his entire life in a way that engages and enthralls any audience member.
Starting off in his hometown of Virginia Beach, Va., Williams portrays his passion for music through incredibly vivid colors and animations. In what he calls “synaesthesia,” Williams’ thoughts and imagination are represented by swirling, bright images that instantly capture your attention.
The entire set of background music played throughout the movie was created by Williams himself — a unique way of telling his story through tunes, instead of words.
One great advantage of conducting this biopic through LEGO bricks instead of the conventional live action is its ability to allow characters and metaphors to come to life. At one point in the movie, Williams portrays his newfound popularity with a scene of him running a bakery shop: At first he is selling baked treats nobody is interested in, and the next moment he is surrounded by people eager to purchase his goods.
All of its humor and action aside, Williams dives into a very emotional time in his life that can bring the audience to tears. After his band, Neptune, splits apart and he begins to die down in fame, Williams then has to grapple with the tragic passing of his grandmother, the sole person who inspired him to pursue music to begin with.
Even if you know nothing about Williams or his career, the entertaining and imaginative animation throughout this movie guarantees an enjoyable 90 minutes.
However, the biopic is not perfect. Midway through, the characters indulge themselves on a tantalizing substance dubbed “PG spray,” a stand-in for marijuana. Overall, the film could use more of that.
The directors took care to censor some aspects for younger audiences but failed to go all the way. Early on, there is a cut before a character says the word “damn,” while a harsher curse word is later left uncensored.
We’re not here to be the language police. That’s where the Motion Picture Association comes in with its standardized movie rating system. If this film is truly meant for pre-teens, like a PG rating would indicate, it should be more careful with its vocabulary — or, at the very least, consistent.
The obscenities go beyond the verbal. The directors seem to have thought they could get away with lewd imaging as long as everything was in LEGO form. While a plastic minifigure in a bikini may be less offensive than its live-action counterpart, it still has no place in a movie deemed appropriate for children.
There are also clear references to the Black Lives Matter movement toward the end of the film, which is commendable, but again, the directors simply won’t commit. Such a heavy topic must have enough time to be explored, or it loses its potency. A sign reading “I can’t breathe” means nothing to young viewers in just one frame. Police brutality and racial justice are important themes; unpack them.
Still, “Piece by Piece” is a pleasant, emotional way to spend a weekend afternoon. The premise is fun, if not a bit narcissistic. Williams admits near the climax that “relevance is a drug.” If it is, he’s certainly a user, given that he produced a 90-minute movie about himself in the form of a kids’ toy.
The plot of “Piece by Piece” focuses on Williams’ self-discovery journey. Maybe the film should go on one too.
