Polish Wedding

PG-13

Released Jan 16, 1998

1 hr. 47 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

42%

36 Reviews

Tomatometer

52%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A Detroit matriarch (Lena Olin) cheats on her husband (Gabriel Byrne) and oversees her pregnant daughter's (Claire Danes) marriage to a neighbor.

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Critics Consensus

An awkward mix of drama and comedy lacks any genuine emotion.

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Steve D

About as fun as attending a strangers wedding.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

claire danes hai rotto il cazzo con i tuoi ruoli da white privileged.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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dave j

Friday, June 21, 2013 (1998) Polish Wedding COMEDY DRAMA Plot less movie written by Theresa Connelly centering on a Polish family living in Detroit centering on Hala(Claire Danes) who's eventual relationship with a cop, Bolek (Gabriel Byrne) who makes bread for a living but is not satisfying his wife Jadzia played by Leno Olin who's speaking English with a bad Polish accent. they're living with 3 or 4 other older siblings and one brother who is the youngest. The movie is supposed to be a comedy but the thing is that I haven't laughed at a single scene throughout since the laughs doesn't consist of any surprises. Plus because it's called "Polish Wedding" their isn't a single thing mentioned about what this Polish family had done or used to do as Polish people- Polish culture is never shown except for one scene but it was already too little too late and clumsily uninvolving regarding carrying a wreath by the Claire Danes character. And because they're no real grimacing parts, I ended not hating the film but at the same time not liking it either. 2 out of 4 stars

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

It's a bit funny at times, but it doesn't seem to go anywhere.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Theresa Connelly is trying to say something about femininity but hell if I know what that is. There's a lot of vulnerable glances on Claire Danes's part, a lot of posturing and speeches by Lena Olin, and a lot of talking on Gabriel Byrne's part, more than any other character in the film. Not that he says anything important. Like Connelly, it's almost like he has a point to make, but it's not clear what that point is to Byrne, Connelly, or the viewer. What makes watching this movie even more difficult is that Connelly knows something about feminist criticism, enough to make reference to a whole slew of arguments including the Madonna/Whore complex and the status of men. If only she could clarify her point, have her main character Hala discover the answers for her in the text, this movie might have been more meaningful or even more watchable. Unfortunately, <i>Polish Wedding</i> boils down to a lot of good ideas - sometimes hilarious ones - that are all disconnected and messily strung together. I get the feeling like the movie is an in-joke, one that the director understands but doesn't explain very well. I wonder if an explanation would make the movie funnier or less entertaining.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Lots of potential but ultimately not great. An early Kristin Bell appearance and the return of the hottie (David) from "Muriel's Wedding" (played by Daniel Lapaine). Still didn't hold my interest due to the meandering dialogue. It just went NOWHERE!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

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Theresa Connelly

Director

Lena Olin

Jadzia

Gabriel Byrne

Bolek

Claire Danes

Hala

Adam Trese

Russell Schuster

Mili Avital

Sofie

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C

Sep 7, 2011

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Globe and Mail

Rated: 2/4

Apr 12, 2002

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James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Rated: 1/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Cole Smithey

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Rated: 3/5

Dec 5, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 17, 2005

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Synopsis

A Detroit matriarch (Lena Olin) cheats on her husband (Gabriel Byrne) and oversees her pregnant daughter's (Claire Danes) marriage to a neighbor.

Director: Theresa Connelly
Executive Producer: Sigurjon Sighvatsson, Ted Tannebaum, Nick Wechsler
Screenwriter: Theresa Connelly
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Lakeshore Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 1998, Original
Release Date (DVD): Apr 17, 2001
Box Office (Gross USA): $600.3K
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)