LEGO Pharrell Williams documentary is a visual embodiment of his song “Happy”

According to the imagination, Piece by piece is visually and creatively spectacular. It marries documentary filmmaking – which is very traditional here – with a remarkable LEGO animation style. When I saw that this was a documentary about Pharell Williams, I was initially surprised. Turning the famous producer’s life story into a LEGO animated film was ambitious, to say the least. But the director Morgan Neville, the team of animators, and writers – Neville, Oscar Vazquez, Aaron Wickenden and Jason Zeldes – do a phenomenal job of creating something fun with the parts of Williams’ life, even if some of​​​​ Pieces do not all. Work.

Piece by Piece uses color and an energetic animation style to tell its story

I couldn’t look away from the stunning visuals

Piece by piece is gorgeous to look at. It’s not just that it has fantastic LEGO animation, but it’s how the elements are used to enhance the story. For example, when Williams and the Neptunes – co-created by Chad Hugo, which recently Filed a lawsuit over the rights to the duo’s name – Created a beat, that beat would be made of various LEGO pieces that would come together and come alive. It would bounce up and down and left and right, bright colors coming out of it as if it could not be contained. It’s a beautiful representation of music.

There is also a sequence where Williams travels the world, and the LEGO animators create a moving globe that spins towards us, alive with a variety of LEGO sets for some of ​​the most famous architecture. In a climactic scene, when Williams feels overwhelmed, the animation drowns him in water, and the scene, paired with cacophonous, kinetic music, perfectly captures his struggles and feelings in the time before he settles into the silence of space (where he is calmed by Carl Sagan). These elements of the film offer a zippy visual palate that won’t be found in other documentaries.

This is what brings Williams’ story to life and kept me actively watching. The filmmaking soars above everything else, making me forget how straightforward the story is. Piece by piece Also resonates because it is unabashedly hopeful and full of joy. Williams is determined to make people feel that way, especially while watching the film. His passion for music and his happiness while talking about it is deeply felt. The filmmakers capture this essence and make it a magical, exceptional viewing experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

Piece by piece don’t dig deeper than it needs to

Certain aspects of Williams’ life are not given much attention

Beyond LEGO animation and the creativity that stems from it, Piece by piece takes a rather conventional route when it comes to exploring Williams’ life. Interviews with big-name celebrities like Jay-Z and Missy Elliott act as a driving force for the chronological life story. Any conflicts — like the one that led to the Neptunes breaking up — and revelations — like Williams admitting his ego got the better of him — are glossed over, unexplored meaningfully. They are left to a rushed ending that sees Williams quickly accept things as he moves on to the next stage.

It’s jarring when it spends so much time on Williams’ rise to fame. Even his relationship with now-wife Helen Williams is abbreviated, as is his friendship with Hugo, which initially gets some attention before mostly fading into the background. Piece by piece Is primarily concerned with being fun, and it is certainly that. A little girl at my screening got up and danced when one of Williams’ songs played. It’s hard to deny that the energy is infectious, but perhaps I was looking for more depth from a film that was never going to give it considering its format.

to this end, Piece by piece is the kind of documentary geared towards adults and children. Its LEGO animation ensures the vulgarity of certain lyrics and entertainment from music videos are heavily toned down. I can’t help but get a little nostalgic as the film goes through Williams’ production discography, from songs like Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” to Britney Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U” and Jay-Z’s “I Just Wanna” Love U (Give It 2 ​​Me)”, the film is full of the producer’s “best of” collection.

His career is a stunning achievement when you look back on it through the lens of Piece by piece. The documentary is able to shed certain traditions through its animated format and honey in the importance of building something piece by piece, as the title alludes to. Some of​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​more​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The infrastructure of infrastructure sites called called The Facilities Facilities 76 10-10-2010 by the Board of Directors, late in the film to make an impact. It’s a shame, but what the documentary lacks in depth it makes up for in style, creativity and entertainment value.

Piece by piece is in theaters Friday, October 11. The film is 93 minutes long and rated PG for language, some suggestive material and thematic elements.