The Polka King
The Polka King

The Polka King

2017Movie95 minEnglish

Local Pennsylvania polka legend Jan Lewan develops a plan to get rich that shocks his fans and lands him in jail.

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Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes65%
Metacritic54/100
Google Users74%
Director: Joshua MortonGenres: Comedy, Drama, Biography, Crime

Plot Summary

In the late 1970s, Jan Lewan, a Polish immigrant with dreams of polka stardom, scams his way into leading a band and building a following in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He marries his biggest fan, a lonely housewife named Louise, to gain access to her savings, which he uses to fund his increasingly elaborate schemes. As his debts mount and federal investigators close in, Jan must face the consequences of his ambition and deceit.

Critical Reception

The Polka King received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised Jack Black's performance and the film's quirky charm, but some found the narrative to be somewhat uneven.

What Reviewers Say

  • Jack Black delivers a surprisingly nuanced performance as a charming but ultimately delusional con man.
  • The film captures a unique, eccentric tone that is both humorous and poignant.
  • While engaging, the story occasionally meanders, not fully capitalizing on its intriguing premise.

Google audience: Google users appreciated the film's humor and Jack Black's performance, finding it to be an entertaining and quirky watch, though some noted it could be a bit slow at times.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true story of Jan Lewan, a Polish-American polka musician who was convicted of fraud in 2005.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
furious_iz

furious_iz

Something's missing from this one, or maybe it's couple of things. Jack Black plays goofy loveable Polka King of Pennsylvania Jan Lewan. He is completely certain of his own talent and has an immense drive to make it big. Sadly he isn't...