Film Snail

5.6

The Polka King

NR·2017·95m

Comedy

Summary

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

Cast

Jack Black

Jan Lewan

Jenny Slate

Marla Lewan

Jason Schwartzman

Mickey Pizzazz

Jacki Weaver

Barb

JB Smoove

Ron Edwards

Robert Capron

David Lewan

Willie Garson

Lonny

Vanessa Bayer

Bitsy Bear

Robert Macaux

Christopher

Mary Klug

Anita Krzyewski

Wallace Wolodarsky

Vince

Lew Schneider

Lou Laroue

Phyllis Kay

Marilyn

Richard Donelly

Stan Moetek

Kati Salowsky

Connie Klopski

Jordan Lloyd

Debra Johnson

Rachel Annette Helson

Beauty Pageant Judge

Anthony Estrella

Presenter

Melody Vasquez

Agent Ramirez

Randy Tow

Mr. Lee

Marilyn Busch

Sheila

Russell Gibson

Gorski

China Forbes

Grammy Reporter

Jim Boyd

Reporter

Portland Helmich

Anchorwoman

Bruce-Robert Serafin

Customer

Wendy Overly

Conga Woman

Jessica Baade

Trish

Keith Mascoll

Applesauce

Owen Burke

Prison Guard

Juani Feliz

PR Woman

Peter Ackerman

Priest

Irvin Wallace

Ruined Old Man

Michael Jibrin

Tyrone

Mickey Gilmore

Prison Guard

Leah Procito

Nurse

Alex Ziwak

Prison Inmate

Arthur Hiou

Security for Pope

Shawn Contois

Bus Driver

Brina

Dance Hall Patron

Brandon Scales

Prison Inmate

Anastasia Tsikhanava

Rock Star

Marybeth Paul

Pageant Contestant

Lara Pezza

Denny

Bella Moore

Polka Kid

Robert Marsella

Waiter / Performance Attendee

Angel Connell

Performance Attendee

Rob Lévesque

Jan Lewan Group

Lance Norris

Pizzeria Customer

Richard Pacheco

Performance Attendee / Polka Dancer

Leonel Severino

Celebrity on the Red Carpet

John Franchi

Performance Attendee

Kobi Polisky

Polka Child

Ted Sterner

Country Music Producer

Jed Griswold

Polka Dancer

Jeffery Kincannon

Performance Attendee

Suzanne Gillies

Security Agent

Harold Rudolph

Polka Dancer

Michele Mortensen

Polka Dancer

Benjamin James Chaplin

Teen Party Goer

Wendy Hartman

Wife Prison Visitor

Lino Tanaka

Doctor

Ron G. Young

Performance Attendee

Rich Rothbell

Uncle Rich / Polka Pro

Glenn W. Kane

Pope's Bodyguard

Tony Moreira

Prison Visitor

Kayla Kohla

Teenage Girl

Eric Berghman

Background Dancer

Alexa Hartman

Daughter Prison Visitor

Tony Jones

Basketball Playing Prisoner

Mary Jane Brennan Sangiolo

Dance Hall Patron

Kevin Paul Healey

Steve Provizer

Polka Band Musician

Luke Nelson

Pope Visitor

Pasquale Dalessio

Bus Tour Group

Frank Cacciola

Polka Dancer (uncredited)

Joe Cali

Tourist (uncredited)

Charlie Flannery

Performance Attendee (uncredited)

Dan Marshall

Polka Dancer (uncredited)

Americo Presciutti

Pope's Security (uncredited)

Crew

Director, Writer

Maya Forbes

Writer

Wallace Wolodarsky

Reviews

furious_iz

January 16, 2018

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 that smart, and not enough people love his music, only a group of dedicated elderly fans, so in a desperate act out of what seems like altruism he starts what is essentially a ponzi scheme to help get his musicians paid more and build his empire.

Jack Black is solid, so if you like his schtick or Polka music you may enjoy this, but outside of that it seems like the actors think this film is a comedy when nothing really funny is said or done. The film ambles along, recreating the events, but it misses any kind of heart or soul that would have been found in the real people.

The biggest disappointment was Jason Schwartzman, the usually solid comedy actor was completely coasting. And what a total waste of JB Smoove. Jenny Slate seemed the most committed to her role outside of Jack Black, but even she couldn't hold this film together.

All in all the film reminded me of another Jack Black film based on true events called Bernie, but Bernie was superior in every way.