‘The Polka King’ reigns on Netflix
Filmed in Woonsocket and other RI locations, movie on story of ‘Polka King’ Jan Lewan is released to online service
WOONSOCKET – If you remember actor Jack Black and a production crew filming a movie about that Polka guy, Jan Lewan, back during the summer of 2016 and wondered what ever happened to it, you can now find the finished film “The Polka King,” on Netflix.
After its debut at the Sundance Film Festival, Netflix picked up The Polka King and released it as a Netflix Global Original on Jan. 12.
That means you’ll have to have a Netflix account to watch the movie, but as many people do, you probably will be talking to someone soon who has watched the film.
Described by Netflix as an “exuberant tragicomedy,” the film relies heavily on Black’s personal charisma and charm to keep its story lighthearted and frequently funny while relating how Lewan gained his fame as the “undisputed King of Pennsylvania Polka” back in the early 1990s. All the while Lewan, as the story goes, was at the same time running a Ponzi scheme, bilking his polka-loving business investors of millions of dollars.
Lewan, born in Poland as Jan Lewandowski, and living for a time under Nazi occupation, made it to America and used his considerable musical talents to build a polka orchestra that became popular initially in Pennsylvania and then nationwide. He was a songwriter, lead singer and band leader who, according to the film’s portrayal of events, got his big break when his band played a radio telethon in the Hazelton, Penn., area. He also met his future wife, Marla, during the same gig.
Lewan’s story was first told in a doc- umentary, “The Man Who Would Be Polka King,” by directors John Mikulak and Joshua Brown, which includes footage of him performing in front of his fans.
Jack Black’s portrayal of Lewan comes in a 90-minute y film directed by Maya Forbes and written by Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky.
In addition to Black as Lem wan, the film features Jenny Slate as his wife, Marla, Jason Schwartzman as his key band member, clarinet player Mickey Pizzazz, and Jacki Weaver as his mother-in-law, Barb.
Robert Capron turns in a commendable performance as Jan’s son, David, who seems to be the only person in the Polka King entourage willing to confront Jan about his financial scheming.
“The Polka King” was filmed for the most part in Rhode Island. There was also some second unit shooting in Rome where the story takes Jan and his fans during a tour of the top cities in Europe. Jan’s trip itinerary includes ta meeting with Pope John Paul II during the final stop in Rome – with comedy ensuing as Lewan had not scheduled an audience with the pontiff in advance.
Lewan’s mother-in-law, Barb, warns Marla early on about the singer’s prospects but his devoted wife fails to see any problem with his business plans, according to dthe film.
Describing how Lewan is always working on his goal, Marla asks her mother, “What’s wrong with him building an empire?”
Her mother doesn’t miss a beat in her response, “he eplays polka music,” to which ther daughter replies, “What’s wrong with a polka empire.”
The music for the film does offer many noteworthy polka tunes, some performed by the real Lewan and his band as a back drop to scenes, and others are performed by Black as he mimics Lewan’s trademark gestures, holding the microphone with both hands and bending his elbows to the music. Most of the music scenes in the film’s dance hall setups end with Black going into dialog with band members or audience members as the Polka King’s story is laid out for the viewer.
There are also the Jan Lewan Band show enhancements, a costumed bear portrayed by former Saturday Night Live cast member Vanessa Bayer, and a giant dancing chicken, too.
The scenes that seem less suited to Black’s significant talent are the more dramatic ones, where he portrays Lewan convincing an elderly couple to take $50,000 from a cashed out retirement plan and put it into his investment scheme. Black’s winning smile really can’t erase the very unfunny ramifications that are ahead for the couple. He later convinces them to reinvest an even larger sum, that they want to withdraw from his scheme, by promising them even greater returns as they roll it over into another investment option.
J.B. Smoove portrays the Pennsylvania Security and Exchange Commission officer who initially warns Lewan about his illegal investment operation and later arrives to shut it down.
“The Polka King” is better at delivering comic farce as Black frantically tries to make good on a promised meeting with the Pope for his tour guests, in a scene that ends on the front steps of the Rhode Island State House, apparently filling in for a Vatican location.
Perceptive viewers will pick out one scene shot in Woonsocket at the Elks Club parking lot off Social Street where Black hands out paychecks to band members getting into the band’s van.
The Modern Diner in Pawtucket is the setting of another scene, but only customers of the eatery will know if its interior was used or that of another diner.
Other Rhode Island highlight’s include scenes at the Columbus Theatre in Providence and the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre in Pawtucket.
There is a scene shot inside a store that is unmistakably an area Benny’s. The exterior of one of the now-defunct department store chain’s location is in another scene where the “Benny’s” sign is on a building that is a supermarket in the film.
“The Polka King” wraps up with Lewan hoping for a way out from his ever-growing Ponzi scheme and a madcap hospital scene in which he may find it, before an ending with a few big surprises.