Piece by Piece: A Review Of A Film I Knew I Was Going To See
That doesn't necessarily mean you should see it.
What up Lego Pharrell! I love the way you do beats in your movie!
Piece by Piece is the life story of Pharrell Williams as told by Pharrell Williams and almost every big star he's worked with from N.O.R.E. (It used to be "Noriega") to Gwen Stefani. There is no Robin Thicke or P. Diddy as one destroyed his marriage and the other destroyed his life (allegedly.) If you love 90's and 00's hip hop and pop, you'll get a kick out of where this movie goes, sing along with the actual songs this movie uses, and enjoy the Lego effect just like Pharrell wanted you to.
Who is Pharrell Williams?
If you don't know who Pharrell Williams tell your Amish parents I say hello and get them to read articles on The Dynamoverse as soon as you can. In any case, Pharrell Williams is a polymath. He's a much more quiet version of what Kanye West has been. Pharrell started in a production team called the Neptunes with his friend Chad Hugo. During that, he started a band with the same name until it was changed to N.E.R.D. (No one Ever Really Dies). Even in his early days of high school, Pharrell was surrounded by future stars including Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Pusha T, and the man that made his career possible Teddy Riley.
Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, Pharrell's life was changed when Teddy Riley, New Jack Swing legend, built a studio in Virginia Beach. Teddy started hosting talent shows at the local high school due to some women cops who said he needed to give something back to the community. Pharrell, Chad, and Shay won the whole thing due to their offbeat style. Pharrell and Chad keep hanging around Teddy Riley's studio until Pharrell becomes a gofer or intern getting coffee and whatnot. Due to his (slowly) disciplined approach, he gets the chance to write a rap verse for the boss. Teddy Riley can't rap as he says in this movie. A lot of people don't know this, but Teddy Riley's verse in Rump Shaker by Wrecks-n-Effect was written by Pharrell Williams.
Is it just me, or can you feel the sexiness those Legos are putting out.
Pharrell and Chad form the production team, The Neptunes, and start producing for everybody. Literally everybody. Hip-hop guys like Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes, pop guys like Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, and rock guys like No Doubt and their band rechristened as N.E.R.D. When you have a polymath on the squad, you can achieve anything. Well… you can achieve anything up until the fame makes Pharrell Willams a little nuts.
Wow, what a life! What's Piece by Piece like?
This will likely sound strange, but I love that they used Legos to make this. Other than this looking like it was made for kids, it made this story about a kid from the Virginia Beach projects becoming one of the biggest stars in the world feel more like a story. Piece by Piece couldn’t be done as a documentary and it wouldn’t have been as interesting with other actors playing the main characters. With Legos, the creators were able to use a series of interviews with Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, etc with the inventiveness that Legos provide. They were able to go to space, recreate classic music videos, and flip through interesting elements of Pharrell's life in a more colorful fashion. The creators used the Lego element to make a movie that would take about 20 years, $300 million, and the destruction of everyone's schedules to make in real life.
(The only Lego movie I've seen is Lego Batman and I only saw that because I love it when Batman acts like a silly fool like he did in the 60's show. I laugh every time "shark repellant" is brought up.)
Should I see Piece by Piece?
Most Definitely!
However, I am a fan. A fan of the Neptunes due to being there when they first came out. I’m a fan of Daft Punk who Pharrell worked with on their last record Random Access Memories along with Nile Rodgers from Chic. One of the greatest days of my life was receiving the first N.E.R.D record in the mail at the TV station I worked for in college. No one else was interested, but I was dying to get my hands on it. I knew who they were. I continue to return to that edited record whenever I can find a CD player, but my early access copy of In Search Of remains in my CD booklet.
This movie starts with a piece that turns into a bigger piece that turns into Pharrell Williams
If you're less of a fan, I think they've been able to make a fun all-ages film. There are a few "shits" in it, but most of the dirtier bits of songs are edited well enough to keep NORE and Bus-a-Bus, and Jigga songs nice and clean for any Amish folks that decide to have a movie night.
So for me, as a follower and fan since Superthug by NORE came out. I followed them during Shake Ya Ass by Mystikal. I slobbered all over myself the day I got the second N.E.R.D album Fly or Die. Those are the only records I buy with real money when they come out. So yeah... I am a fan and think everyone else should be a fan too. So unless you're a hater of the highest order, I think you'll enjoy watching another Lego movie you can bring your kids to.
