This is one of those stories when reality was stranger, and more entertaining, than fiction.

When it comes to the film’s overall success, these wildly amusing situations take a back seat to the contributions of an excellent cast.

The sporadic magic of The Polka King largely comes from its casting, and the hammy performances that follow.

The Polka King doesn't have the dazzling ambition or energy of a great grifter classic. Instead she seems intent on nailing the details, on realizing Jan's milieu in all its tacky splendor, and trusting that our attention will follow. As in "Infinitely Polar Bear," Forbes has a gift for letting her production design tell the story.

What’s key is that even though this is a movie about a scoundrel, it’s all very optimistic. Forbes and Wolodarsky keep the frame bright and the filmmaking calls attention to itself only when necessary.