Piece by Piece: A Musical Brick-Tacular

Unboxing the Set

It might seem crazy, what I’m ‘bout to say… Pharrell Williams has taken over the stage in one of the year’s most unique films. Piece by Piece is the latest movie from acclaimed filmmaker Morgan Neville. Known for his documentary features–primarily the Mr. Rogers-focused tearjerker Won’t You Be My Neighbor?–Neville adds flair to the concepts he tackles in his films to help them stand out and resonate with audiences. 

But that raises a question: in trying to maintain broad appeal with his films, what would be the right approach for his next outing?

Enter 2014’s massive hit, The Lego Movie, which was praised for its creative writing and memorable voice acting. However, one aspect that stood out in the picture was the animation, which gave the classic little minifigures more personality and movement while immersing them in colorful and vibrant environments. There has not been a new Lego movie in five years, due to the underperformance of 2019’s The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and Warner Bros. losing the rights to the brand. 

However, after the rights to the classic toys were acquired by Universal, they collaborated with Neville and modern music icon Pharrell Williams to release a new type of movie: an animated documentary that uses Lego pieces to tell its story. With all of these factors combined, plus my love for the LEGO® brand and Williams’s music, I was very curious to check out the film. 

After seeing it for myself on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas just minutes from campus, it raises the question: is this movie worthy of being a Billboard hit, or would it fare better in the bargain bin?

Getting Lucky

Piece by Piece tells Williams’ story about how he came to be a mainstay in the music industry, combined with interviews from several important individuals in his life such as his family, friends, and musical collaborators. The film not only stars Williams and Neville as Lego-fied versions of themselves, but also features appearances by other big-name musicians such as Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Daft Punk, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg.

On paper, this sounds like a completely bizarre concept: an animated musical biographical documentary told through Lego bricks. Yet, despite the Mad Libs of genres, the movie actually finds a way to make everything flow smoothly and mesh together quite well. The film does not follow a traditional narrative story, instead relying on narration from Williams and other interviews to tell it. When compared to most other animated films, this helps Piece by Piece to stand out as something more than just another Lego movie or musician biopic. 

The story itself is engaging and makes strong use of its peculiar premise, courtesy of strong character interactions and a tone that finds the right balance between light hearted and emotional. However, the true star of the show is the animation; telling a story through Lego bricks allows for greater creative freedom in what is presented. 

As such, this results in more exaggerated movements and vibrant locations that provide strong eye candy for viewers, showcasing the imaginative side of the movie. Even ten years after The Lego Movie’s release, this film proves that these simple building bricks are capable of more than meets the eye.

Some Toys Sold Separately

The film features an all-star cast of high-profile musicians that were widely promoted in the trailers. Every minifigure gets their own time to shine in this movie, with voice acting that feels genuine, especially in the interview segments. Due to the documentary approach, there is a layer of realism behind each of these toys, which adds more to the movie and helps it stand on its own two feet.

Since the film tells Williams’ story, it is natural that he gets the most attention out of the rest of the cast. He tells his story  efficiently throughout the runtime, accompanied by a strong musical score and fantastic visuals. There is even a decent amount of emotion in some of his scenes, especially in the second half, which adds to the realistic feel of the movie compared to other animated works, including those from this year.

There is one nitpick I have with these characters, though: despite everyone getting some time to shine, there is not a lot of development in many of them. This is largely because some of the characters do not get a lot of screen time, primarily the case with the other celebrity musicians featured. Do not be fooled by the marketing: a few of them appear in only one or two scenes before they somewhat disappear for the rest of the film. 

Without giving too much away, I will say that Timberlake and Lamar are among the ones that got the least amount of screentime, including interview footage, which makes their appearances a bit forgettable.

Turning Up the Volume

When discussion about Williams begins, the aspect that people usually point to first is his music. In addition to having a great score by Michael Andrews, the film is also strong in implementing Williams’ own songs into the screenplay. There is a lot of variety in the music he creates, especially in terms of beat and lyrics. In this movie, the soundtrack is practically its own character as it allows Williams’ music to shine in multiple ways.

There are several scenes that make use of pre-existing songs in Williams’ catalog, whether as a producer or singer, in colorful ways to match the animation. In fact, after watching the film, I felt the urge to replay some of his classic songs like Get Lucky or Happy. 

In addition to these tracks, Williams also made original music for the film, each with their own unique rhythm and lyrics. What I like about the music in this film, both original and pre-existing, is that none of the tracks blend together; there’s always something different in the compositions. Not only are many of the songs upbeat and catchy, but they help to tell the story in their own way, in turn creating a bond between the viewers and soundtrack.

Worth Assembling and Displaying

Overall, while I wish some of the other musicians had more screen time and development, Piece by Piece is yet another strong animated feature from 2024, courtesy of its engaging story, stunning animation, strong musical score, effective use of Williams’ songs, and unique approach to a typical documentary or biographical feature. 

This movie has a wide audience appeal; anyone can watch it and find something they love about it. Younger audiences will fall for the movie’s bright colors and catchy soundtrack, while older crowds can appreciate its documentary style and emotional moments. 

With this in mind, I recommend this movie to all readers, especially Lego builders, fans of Williams, and those who enjoy  documentaries. Piece by Piece is now playing in theaters nationwide, including the nearby Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas located less than three miles from campus. 

Pro tip: Every Tuesday, enjoy 50% off tickets at our local theater! If you’re free, take advantage of this deal and support your community theater!

Despite an unexpected combination of genres, this film found a way to make them work together in a satisfactory way; this is one Lego set worth buying fresh off the shelf!

My Rating: