A Lego Movie doc that will make you Happy.

I felt bad that “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” failed to outgross the original film for Warner Bros., which why we’re probably not going to be seeing Emmet or Lucy for a while. But I feel more optimism now that we have “Piece by Piece,” a documentary on Pharrell Williams, released by Focus Features and told in the form of Legos. Maybe not in its most realistic looking way, but in its bright and cheerful way.

Morgan Neville directs and interviews Pharrell about his life as a young dreamer who was able to see music in a different light. We also see his friendship with Chad Hugo, who would also form the Neptunes with him, Shay Haley, who would also join them in the band N.E.R.D. (which the film doesn’t talk about). And we also see his family, who all see his passion, while wanting him to work hard to be molded into a better person.

The music that Pharrell creates comes in the forms of booming Lego pieces that bright up. He’s had hits and flops, collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, and Kendrick Lamar among others, and a greater meaning of his life which takes a while for himself to acknowledge.

“Piece by Piece” is often stylish, hypnotic, heartwarming, and funny with the right kind of vibes that even adults can ease into. And with great family animated films out this season like “The Wild Robot” and “Transformers One,” I think kids may enjoy this one, too.

I have to admit I first heard his name when he contributed to the “Despicable Me” soundtrack back in 2010, and he has been appearing on every sequel soundtrack since then. And in this doc, we get a little look at his “Despicable Me 2” hit “Happy,” which a majority of fans have fallen under its spell. And even the Minions, who were last seen in “Despicable Me 4,” get Lego caricatures of themselves in this segment. And the movie doesn’t oversell itself, even if they’re both released by the same company Universal Studios.

Even though the animation should resemble the realistic looks of “The Lego Movie” franchise, it still knows how to use bricks and pieces. I like how they practically rotoscope certain interviews and even what Pharrell was watching on TV. It kind of reminded me of how Richard Linklater did this sort of thing in “Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood.” And those brick music beats are easy to follow and enjoy.

Neville, whose most recent work this year was the exceptional Steve Martin doc “Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces,” is able to have fun with the notion of being a Lego character interviewing a Lego Pharrell, while acknowledging the real singer’s life. Even the singer admitted he didn’t want to do a doc about himself without Legos. And it’s a smart decision, considering the colors that represent the energy and passion in his songs, and the interviewees who are all willing to see and hear themselves as Legos.

I’m not sure how well “Piece by Piece” will perform at the box office, especially since so far “Joker: Folie a Deux” has made “Morbius” money in its opening weekend compared to the original’s opening, and how a PETA protester shouted at Pharrell at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for being Louis Vuitton’s new men’s creative director. The fashion apparently comes from animal cruelty, and he told her: “You know what? You’re right.” But if you do look past the cynicism of what’s going on in the entertainment world, you’d give “Piece by Piece” a chance and it will make you “Happy.”