Parents' Guide to Piece by Piece

This is an inspiring, unforgettable documentary about a one-of-a-kind artist who's never been content to color within the lines for his art. There's a moment in Piece by Piece when billionaire Jay-Z says that most of hip-hop's movers and shakers consider Williams like a sweet little brother they can make fun of but ultimately want to defend and protect. And that encapsulates how Williams comes off in this documentary: a self-proclaimed nerd who geeks out on music, loves to skate, sees music as colors, and is always ready for the next project. But, alas, all of that "what's next" energy eventually leads Williams to sell out, break up with his original music partners, and think in an overly commercial way about his brand (instead of his art).

In vibrant Lego animation, Neville movingly captures how Williams rediscovers the joy in his music, leading to his tremendous comeback with "Happy." Neville also shares that, despite Williams' missteps, the music industry—from journalists to producers to A-list stars—all seem to love Williams and his brand of genius. Unlike many artists of his stature, Williams is able to honestly reflect about his failure and his out-of-control arrogance at points in his life and career. In a touching scene, Williams also breaks down in gratitude to the people in his life who love and support him unconditionally. One of the funniest sequences in the film is when Williams and Hugo meet with Snoop Dogg, who's surrounded by 15 extremely tall men in a room filled with conspicuous smoke (marijuana use is implied), and the partners use "PG Spray" to clear the air. Kids will also laugh at the poop emojis that appear over people's mouths when their curse words are bleeped out and at the fantastical moments that depict Williams' imagination. This film is, ultimately, a testament both to Williams' genius and to the support, courage, humility, and perseverance it takes to succeed.