Piece by Piece Parent Guide

From his beginnings in Virginia Beach to the cultural icon we know today, Pharrell Williams has had his share of ups and downs. True to his creative style, instead of filming a standard biographical documentary, he chose to tell his story through animated Lego, creating a colorful world of imaginative visuals to match his groundbreaking beats.

When I first heard about this film, I had no idea what to expect. I questioned who this film could possibly be for: the Lego visuals and PG rating seemed aimed at a young audience, but what kid knows or cares about Pharrell Williams short of his work on the Despicable Me soundtracks? I also expected, probably because of the artistic medium, that this would be a fictionalized story based on Pharrell’s life. Instead, Piece by Piece is a straightforward documentary, complete with talking head interviews and voiceover, but with a visual twist. In live action, this would have been a standard artist feature on MTV, but Pharrell is nothing if not innovative.

Setting the visuals aside for a moment, Piece by Piece is a fine documentary. Pharrell Williams is an incredibly talented and creative person, and he’s able to express his feelings and journey in vulnerable and powerful ways. However, because we’re being told the story through his lens, I get the feeling that some things were left out. I don’t expect him to air all his dirty laundry on the big screen, but some of the low points in his life feel like they were glazed over, or at least told in vague terms. The end of the film also feels rushed, as he glosses over some of his more recent political activism.

That all said, the animation turns an average documentary into an artistic experience. The medium of Lego lends itself to color, movement, and imagination, and this film realizes that potential to the fullest. It’s also very fun seeing celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani transformed into Lego figures. This artistic risk prevents this autobiography from feeling too self-indulgent and ego-driven.

Since Piece by Piece is a documentary, the level of negative content is unsurprisingly low. There is some mild swearing, which is to be expected when interviewing hip-hop stars, and a bit of drinking, though most children won’t realize what’s in those nondescript bottles. That said, I don’t think young audiences will connect with this film, seeing as it’s the life story of an artist they would barely know. However, music and animation fans are sure to enjoy this feast for the eyes and ears. The genre needed a creative boost, and Pharrell Williams is perhaps the most qualified man for the job.