Pharrell Williams' LEGO Documentary is the visual embodiment of his song “Happy”

When it comes to imagination, Piece by piece it is visually and creatively spectacular. This marries documentary filmmaking – which is very traditional here – with LEGO's unusual animation style. When I saw it was a documentary about Pharrell Williams, I was initially surprised. Turning the life story of a famous manufacturer into a LEGO animated film was ambitious, to say the least. But director Morgan Neville and the team of animators and writers — Neville, Oscar Vazquez, Aaron Wickenden and Jason Zeldes — do a phenomenal job of creating something entertaining with the slices of Williams' life, even if some of them don't all work.

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

I couldn't take my eyes off the stunning visuals

Piece by piece it's great to look at. It's not just the fantastic LEGO animation, but the way these elements are used to enhance the story. For example, whenever Williams and the Neptunes — co-created by Chad Hugo, who recently filed a lawsuit over the rights to the duo's name — created a beat that would consist of various LEGO pieces that would come together and come to life. He jumped up and down, left and right, radiating bright colors as if he was unstoppable. It's a beautiful representation of music.

There is also a sequence where Williams travels around the world and LEGO animators create a moving ball that spins towards us and comes to life with various LEGO sets for the most famous architectures. In the climactic scene, when Williams feels overwhelmed, the animation drowns him in water, and the scene, combined with cacophonous, kinetic music, nicely captures his struggles and feelings in the moment before he falls into the silence of space (where he is calmed by Carla Sagan). These elements of the film offer a visual dynamic that you won't find in other documentaries.

This is what brings Williams' story to life and keeps me actively watching it. Filmmaking rises above everything else, making me forget how simple storytelling is. Piece by piece it also resonates because it is unabashedly hopeful and joyful. Williams goes out of his way to make people feel that way, especially when watching the film. His passion for music and the joy he gets from talking about it are deeply felt. The filmmakers captured this essence and transformed it into a magical, unique viewing experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

Piece by piece, I don't dig deeper than necessary

Some aspects of Williams' life don't get much attention

Beyond LEGO animation and the creativity that comes from it, Piece by piece when it comes to exploring Williams' life, he follows a rather conventional route. Interviews with famous stars such as Jay-Z and Missy Elliott act as the driving force behind the chronological life story. Any conflicts – like the one that led to Neptune's breakup – and revelations – like Williams' admission that his ego got the better of him – are glossed over and left unexplored in meaningful ways. What they're left with is a rushed ending where Williams quickly accepts these things and moves on to the next stage.

It's irritating since so much time is devoted to Williams' rise to fame. Even his relationship with his current wife, Helen Williams, is cut short, as is his friendship with Hugo, who is initially given some attention and then fades into the background. Piece by piece it's all about having fun, and that's certainly what it's all about. A little girl at my show got up and danced every time one of Williams' songs played. It's hard to deny that its energy is contagious, but perhaps I was looking for more depth in a film that never captured it given its format.

For this purpose Piece by piece is a type of documentary addressed to both adults and children. The LEGO animation makes the vulgarity of some of the lyrics and music videos much toned down. I couldn't help but feel nostalgic as the film moved 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 packed with a collection of the producer's “best of”.

His career is a stunning achievement when viewed through this lens Piece by piece. The documentary manages to abandon certain traditions through its animated form and emphasize the importance of building something piece by piece, as the title alludes to. Some of the most important elements have been removed to keep things entertaining and PG, but these – admittedly more interesting aspects – come too late in the film to make an impact. It's a shame, but what this documentary lacks in depth it makes up for in style, creativity, and entertainment value.

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

7/10

Piece by Piece is an animated biographical film directed by Morgan Neville. The film explores the life and career of musician and performer Pharrell Williams, who uses LEGO bricks to show the evolution of his creative process throughout his life.

Pros

• The animation is stunning and some scenes are truly impressive
• Music produced by Pharrell Williams also adds to the fun
• The documentary is lively and engaging

Defects

• Some elements of Pharrell's life have been left unsaid, the so-called