It’s one of the most outlandish and strange movie concepts in recent memory, but since Pharrell Williams hasn’t always followed the rules, it makes sense in some way.
In the biopic Piece By Piece, the music legend—producer, rapper, singer of N.E.R.D., beatmaker to Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Gwen Stefani, and many others—tells his tale.
Additionally, that biopic also known as a behind-the-scenes documentary, is available as an animated LEGO set. Yes, it’s your standard animated LEGO biopic about Pharrell Williams.
For the moment, let’s set aside our cynicism and consider the possibility that this is an intriguing and original film that tells the story of a musical legend who has made it his trademark to disassemble melodic bricks and rebuild them in his own image.
And in the midst of an abundance of pure play-the-hits music videos (like your Back to Black and Bob Marley: One Love), it’s encouraging to see Pharrell’s creative path told in a different media.
In addition, it means that minifigures of celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg will be available. When will the LEGO music studio set tie-in release?
With an Oscar-winning history in documentaries, including 20 Feet from Stardom, the Mister Rogers-focused Won’t You Be My Neighbor? And this year’s two-part Steve Martin documentary, Piece By Piece has a strong cinematic pedigree.
It has a visual aesthetic reminiscent of the many LEGO movies that debuted in the middle of the decade, along with the humor that defined those movies. Of course, it also features brand-new Pharrell music.
Given that “Happy” from Despicable Me 2 became a huge smash on its own, Pharrell might benefit from this in a number of ways.
In any case, when Piece By Piece opens in theaters later this year, we’ll find out if it can fit all the puzzle pieces together or if certain parts seem to be missing.