Morgan Neville’s phantasmagorical portrait of legendary musician Pharrell Williams seamlessly blends documentary, musical, and biopic genres, and it becomes clear—indeed, necessary—why the film opts for Lego animation. “Piece by Piece” embraces Pharrell’s synesthesia, offering a vivid and colorful window into the mind of one of the 21st century’s most influential musicians. By incorporating this seemingly incongruous animation style, the film reimagines the tired music biopic format, creating something as innovative and ambitious as the artist it portrays.

The idea to tell his story through animated Lego bricks came from Pharrell himself, who believed this medium was the only way to do his life justice. For most of “Piece by Piece,” that theory holds true. The film opens with Lego-Pharrell being interviewed by Lego-Morgan Neville, apparently recreating an in-person interview the duo filmed together. But rather than subject the audience to the usual talking-heads documentary interspersed with archival footage, Neville rises to the challenge Pharrell presents, allowing the film to explore endlessly exciting possibilities—though it doesn’t fully capitalize on them.

We follow a young Lego-Pharrell growing up in Virginia Beach, isolated by his peers but finding solace in the vibrant colors emanating from his speakers. In the standard rise-fall-rise biopic structure, the first act charts Pharrell’s meteoric ascent to stardom. He meets Chad Hugo, his Neptunes collaborator, a kindred spirit with whom he shares his deepening passion for music. At a high school brimming with future talent, we are introduced to Lego-ized versions of Shay Haley (the third member of N.E.R.D.), Pusha T, Missy Elliott, and Pharrell’s cousin Timbaland. After impressing music producer Teddy Riley at a high school talent show, Pharrell and his friends are invited to work at Riley’s newly opened local studio, Future Records.

Pharrell’s boundless energy initially grates on Riley, but eventually, Riley relents and enlists Pharrell’s help with a song. By ghostwriting Riley’s verse on Wreckx-n-Effect’s “Rump Shaker,” Pharrell begins carving out a name for himself. The audience is treated to creatively stylized portrayals of a young artist’s rites of passage, including Pharrell blowing his first major paycheck at the mall and unnerving record executives with his eccentricities. Despite Pharrell’s obsessive drive for innovation and quirky persona alienating some, opportunities flood in, and collaborations with N.O.R.E., Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, and Busta Rhymes quickly cement his reputation as the most sought-after producer in the industry.

In addition to its Lego-animation, “Piece by Piece” carries a PG rating, necessitating some clever censorship throughout the film. In one of its funniest scenes, Pharrell and Chad pass around cans of “PG spray”—a playful substitute for weed—with Snoop Dogg as they craft the beat for “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” The scenes where Pharrell makes beats, visualized as thumping abstract assemblies of glowing Lego pieces, are among the film’s highlights. Another standout moment shows Pharrell finding inspiration for his “Despicable Me 2” hit “Happy” while giving his son a bath, with the room turning bright yellow before a jubilant rendition of the catchy anthem breaks out.

'Piece by Piece' Focus Features via MovieStillsDB

When Neville uses the limitless creativity offered by Lego animation to mirror Pharrell’s immense artistry, “Piece by Piece” is a feel-good triumph. But as the film shifts into its second act, its superficiality becomes evident. Any biopic involving its subject directly is bound to be somewhat sanitized, and in the case of “Piece by Piece,” the story feels overly sterile. Pharrell’s “fall” is portrayed as a combination of personal grief over his grandmother’s death and an increased focus on brand endorsements that momentarily distracts him from music. His greatest flaw, according to the film, is his supposed lack of commitment, though this trait is framed as both a weakness and a strength—one that explains his genre-defying success.

The most profound insight into Pharrell’s creative process offered by the film is his belief that nothing truly original is created; rather, artists combine existing colors, sounds, and ideas into something beautiful—much like building with Lego pieces.

To its credit, The Lego Group made a concerted effort to capture the likenesses of the many musical superstars who appear in Piece by Piece. From custom boom boxes and turntables to accurate hairpieces and inclusive skin tones, Lego went all out for their fifth cinematic venture. As someone who fondly remembers my youth spent skateboarding in classic Bones and Powell Peralta shirts, I was delighted by seeing these nostalgic fashion staples rendered in Lego form. And witnessing a Lego version of Noreaga? Pure fun. However, when the film addresses serious topics—such as the Pharrell-produced Kendrick Lamar track “Alright” becoming an anthem for Black Lives Matter protests—the glossy, playful animation starts to feel almost inappropriate.

Perhaps the clearest indication of “Piece by Piece’s” lack of real depth is its release amid an ongoing legal dispute between Pharrell and Chad Hugo over Pharrell’s alleged attempt to claim sole control of their shared trademarks. While this development postdates the film’s production, it underscores the absence of any meaningful exploration of Pharrell’s inner life. The Lego animation provides a refreshing change of pace for a biopic, but ultimately, it serves as stylish window dressing for the familiar surface-level music biopic formula that many cinephiles have come to dread. For all its creative posturing, “Piece by Piece” closely follows the instructions, and while it’s more entertaining than simply reading Pharrell’s Wikipedia page, the amount of insight you’ll gain from either is about the same.

"Piece by Piece" opens in theaters on October 11, 2024.