2024 is proving a sensational 12 months for the revival of the music biopic. Certain, it began off weak with the bog-standard One Love and the infuriating Again to Black. However summer time introduced the brazen rebel of Kneecap, which performed like an early Man Ritchie crime romp. And the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition introduced the wowing double act of Higher Man, which reimagines British pop star Robbie Williams as a literal dancing monkey, and Piece By Piece, by which American rapper/songwriter/producer/designer Pharrell Williams spins his life story right into a Lego film.
Even when the tales hit acquainted beats of a rags-to-riches arc, each of those outstanding reinventions make their materials stand out by way of type. However the place Higher Man embraces a warts-and-all strategy, Pharrell Williams — with the collaboration of heralded documentarian Morgan Neville (20 Ft From Stardom, Will not You Be My Neighbor?) delivers an inspirational animated biopic for all ages.
Glossing over the low factors of Williams’ journey earned the movie blended opinions out of its debut at Telluride Movie Competition. However the extra I mulled over what this film does provide, the extra I used to be received over by its playful, shiny strategy.
Piece By Piece turns America’s greatest hip-hop stars into minifigs.
Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani in “Piece By Piece.”
Credit score: Courtesy of Focus Options
To seek out the arc of Williams’ story, Neville interviewed the multi-hyphenate star, his spouse Helen Lasichanh, and a blinding array of collaborators and colleagues, together with Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, The Neptunes’ Chad Hugo, Gwen Stefani, and lots of extra. In an interview with Mashable, Williams revealed many of those interviewees had no thought their contribution can be filtered by way of a Lego lens, and solely found they’d been remodeled into minifigs when the primary trailer hit.
Neville’s visible translation of those interviews consists of amusing prospers, like turning Snoop Canine right into a Lego Doberman, and making metaphors about bakeries literal, with Lego Pharrell promoting candy treats the way in which he offered hit beats. In a single occasion, the thought of blowing one’s thoughts with a sick little bit of music is illustrated by having a smiling minifig’s head pop proper off its base in amazement. These selections deliver a playfulness into the movie that not solely is certain to please followers of The Lego Film and The Lego Batman Film, but additionally displays the tone of Williams’ hits, like “Happy” and “Get Lucky.”
Greater than this nonetheless, by turning himself right into a plaything, Piece By Piece offers Williams a inventive distance to mirror on his personal life as whether it is considered one of his many media tasks. By means of heat narration, he opens up about his childhood within the Atlantis Residences in Virginia Seashore, Virginia. The colourful blocks not solely reconstruct his humble residence but additionally a extra fantastical model of Atlantis, the place an Afro-wearing child Pharrell swims about with an enormous goldfish as Poseidon appears to be like on. This charming spectacle showcases Pharrell’s creativeness manifesting huge, surreal eventualities, which turns into a recurring theme — right down to dreaming up a Lego music biopic.
Mashable Prime Tales
Piece By Piece is a Little Engine That May story that youngsters will relish.
Credit score: Courtesy of Focus Options
After this whimsical dip into brick-made oceans, Williams admits he was thought of an oddball by others, confessing, “It broke my spirit.” However bizarre children on the market (or the bizarre adults they grew to become) would possibly discover solace as little Pharrell finds his crew, every of whom additionally revels in making music. From there, Piece By Piece turns into a narrative of succeeding by staying true to your self and placing within the work to construct your dream, brick by brick. Alongside the way in which, Neville laces numerous hits that Pharrell has contributed to, from “Hot in Herre” and “Shake Ya Ass” to “Hollaback Girl” and “Blurred Lines.” (Dad and mom, do not fret. A few of the racier lyrics have been delicately plucked out.)
Whereas it is initially enjoyable to indulge within the nostalgia as Neville recreates iconic music movies with minifigs, this gadget begins to get outdated because the story of his rise makes for lots of name- and track-dropping. Pardon the pun, however issues get a bit one-note. Then on the subject of a low level — a necessity for any biopic or story for that matter — Williams pulls again.
Piece By Piece cannot decide to its huge swing.
Credit score: Courtesy of Focus Options
Rosy reminiscences of childhood troubles is one factor, however sharing why his profession took a dip is a Lego bridge too far. As an alternative of probing questions, Neville paves a path with platitudes about how his topic’s biggest weak point is he has too many concepts. Colleagues communicate vaguely about some enterprise missteps or shameless yes-men who gave Williams dangerous recommendation, and these unnamed unfavorable influences are imagined as a trio of gray-skinned ghouls carrying smiles and enterprise fits.
Right here the movie suffers. Even with the masks of the minifig, Williams cannot let his viewers into the darkish moments. (Then again, that is the place Higher Man positively thrives.) Swiftly, Williams has reconnected along with his pure inspiration, and the third act turns into a rousing celebration of music, dance, and Lego bits humorous and heartfelt. However this fumbled beat undercuts the film’s message. Being true to your self is not a one-time battle; it is ongoing. However with a neighborhood — just like the minifig family and friends in Piece By Piece — one would possibly get their block knocked off and nonetheless rebuild.
Even with assist from an on-screen avatar, can Williams not admit the ugly truths of his personal story? Or did he and Neville concern self-doubt in something however the briefest point out would possibly deliver down the enjoyment of their film? To that, I would level to the opposite Lego motion pictures, the place the Lego universe and Lego Gotham are delivered to the brink of utter destruction with out us shedding religion of their minifig heroes. Heck, The Lego Film 2: The Second Half even made the darkish aspect of its completely happy hero the minifig villain!
This wobble apart, Piece By Piece is a winsome reinvention of the music biopic. Animation is enthusiastically employed to deliver the viewers into the expertise of being Pharrell Williams. The colourful blocks not solely enable the development of musical beats to turn out to be a bodily act reasonably than an summary thought, but additionally give a Ratatouille-like understanding of how this artwork kind impacts its hero. His synesthesia is showcased in waves of colour because the beat bounces.
Whereas this colourful idea means Piece By Piece generally is a hit with children, it is easy to want the film dared to delve a bit extra into the issues of being a grown-up. However all in all, Piece By Piece is a delight that would nicely have audiences dancing within the aisles.
Piece By Piece is now streaming on Peacock.
UPDATE: Feb. 6, 2025, 4:24 p.m. EST “Piece By Piece” was reviewed out of its Worldwide Premiere on the 2024 Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition. This overview was initially printed on Sept. 12, 2024, and has been up to date to mirror viewing choices.
