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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
	Jack Black	...	Jan Lewan
	Jenny Slate	...	Marla Lewan
	Jason Schwartzman	...	Mickey Pizzazz
	Jacki Weaver	...	Barb
	J.B. Smoove	...	Ron Edwards (as JB Smoove)
	Robert Capron	...	David Lewan
	Willie Garson	...	Lonny
	Vanessa Bayer	...	Bitsy Bear
	Robert Macaux	...	Christopher
	Mary Klug	...	Anita Krzyewski
	Wallace Wolodarsky	...	Vince (as Wally Wolodarsky)
	Lew Schneider	...	Lou Laroue
	Phyllis Kay	...	Marilyn
	Richard Donelly	...	Stan Moetek
	Kati Salowsky	...	Connie Klopski

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Storyline

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

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | f rated | See All (2) »

Taglines:

The greatest scandal in polka history.

Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

Certificate:

TV-14 | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 2018 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Man Who Would Be Polka King See more »

Filming Locations:

Rhode Island, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

ShivHans Pictures, Electric Dynamite, Permut Presentations See more »

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Closing credits show some documents from original Jan Lewan's career. Among other, his Polish actors association card (dated 1964), signed by Henryk Szletynski, great Polish stage actor and the society's chairman. The card reveals also that Lewans real name is "Lewandowski". See more »

Goofs

Although the minor detail was caught to use the proper blue & yellow Pennsylvania license plates prior to the year 2000 and then update them to the current form upon Lewan's release from prison, vehicles are shown having front plates. Pennsylvania does not issue front license plates. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Jan Lewan: [narrating] When I was little boy in Poland, all the times, I dreaming of America. So I come, I work hard, and I climb to the highest stars.
Jan Lewan: [on stage singing] Oh, la, la; Ole, ole, ole, ole; O la-di, o la-la; Ole, ole, ole, ole; O la-di, o la-la Let's go!
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Connections

References Live with Kelly and Ryan (1988) See more »

Soundtracks

Kosil Ojciec Siano
Written by Zofia Rogoszowna
Arranged by Stephen Kaminski
Performed by Jack Black
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User Reviews

Black steals bizarre biopic

21 January 2018 | by Donatien3 – See all my reviews

While 'The Polka King' just seems like a vehicle for Jack Black to show off his singing talents, this Netflix exclusive is based on the true story of Polish polka singer Jan Lewan (Black) who traps his wealthy fans/investors in an elaborate Ponzi scheme.

Black - relatively restrained by his usual standards - plays Lewan as a hard-working, big-dreaming and God-fearing entertainer who wants to please his wife Marla ('Parks and Recreation's' Jenny Slate) and critical mother-in-law (Jackie Weaver), his expanding band (including best friend and clarinet player Mickey, played by Jason Schwartzman) and his adoring fans. He needs money to do so, and that's where the trouble starts...

Black nails the cheesy, silly polka songs with the Polish accent. Like his other biopic 'Bernie', TPK shows what a talented singer Black is outside of his comedy acoustic rock bank Tenacious D.

If you love Black as a singer, it's worth watching.

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