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Queenpins. That includes the details about the women and the two men chasing after them. 'Queenpins' Review: Suburban Scammers Two cash-strapped neighbors devise a multimillion-dollar coupon swindle in this mildly entertaining comedy. [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), But thats just Connie and Jojo. All three women were arrested and charged with forgery, fraud and counterfeiting. Tellingly, the changes to the details of the real law enforcement and private investigators make them less sympathetic. However, they quickly learned that with a little crime, they could actually make money off of it. These are free-item coupons," Phoenix Police Sgt. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. Ramirez, too, declined to respond to requests for comment. If you watch the movie 'Queenpins,' you will see, what I believe, is the first film in Hollywood to feature AEW in the film." Furthermore, Paul Walter Hauser reveals that he has actually had minimal wrestling training with several names from The Nightmare Factory including Anthony Ogogo, Preston Vance, and even WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas . And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. Mugshots of the real women behind Queenpins are displayed below. Queenpins tells a comedic story of two down-on-their-luck Phoenix women who discover their path to prosperity by concocting a $40 million counterfeit coupon scheme that all comes crashing down when they get caught. Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. Rexha's character helps Connie and JoJo evade the authorities, mainly by strengthening their internet security. Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. Previously, she worked as a singer and songwriter, penning hitslike Eminem and Rihanna's "The Monster" and collaborating with bands such as Florida Georgia Line. Husband-and-wife filmmakers Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly did fly to Arizona in 2018 to interview the real detective who worked the case. Others nabbed coupons for free pet food, diapers, and household goods from as many as 40 major manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Hershey. Being clever with coupons makes her feel like she is making a financial contribution. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? The women sold their counterfeit coupons on various online sites, including eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? As far as the real women involved, stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste admit that they never actually met or spoke to the actual minds behind the crime to learn what sparked it. "We're talking about anywhere from $400 to $600 million in loss," said Officer James Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. Just to make him more sympathetic, in addition to the $2 an hour, he has a pregnant wife who also works at the factory. Released in the United States on September 10, 2021 by STXfilms, the film received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office bomb, grossing only $1.2 million against a $20 million production budget. You know what, I bet if a better actor were playing Ken Miller, thered probably be a little fine tooth combing involved with the world of loss prevention. No. They may also expose themselves to additional risk by providing their names, home addresses, and financial information to organized crime rings." We dont want people to think they can do this, he said. Alienated by her uninspiring existence being unemployed and having suffered a miscarriage in an attempt to conceive a child, Connie commiserates with her best friend Joanna "JoJo" Johnson, who has been unable to secure proper employment since having her identity stolen and thus lives with her mother Josephine, attempting to generate revenue by making YouTube videos while being amorously pursued by the local mailman, Earl. Rare $300 sign-up bonus card hits market Ad The Ascent. -TIME. Bell has extensive experience in Broadway, television, and film, leading successful TV series like Veronica Mars and The Good Place. She suggestsmaking fake identities and multiple accounts to store their earnings. Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. -Daily Mail. 'Queenpins' Plot Summary The leader, Ramirez, pleaded guilty to fraud, counterfeiting, and illegal control of an enterprise. Nick CassavetesasCaptain Pain - Cassavetes plays Captain Pain in Queenpins. They were charged with counterfeiting, forgery, operating an illegal enterprise, money laundering, and other violations. The trios many customers never faced charges but they might have. Much the same can be said for Paul Walter Houser, who plays Ken Miller, the loss prevention officer that uncovers and eventually busts Connie and Jojos scam. That would be too prestigious for Hauser's wannabe-cop Miller (Hauser borrows from his 2019 performance in Richard Jewell). The filmmakers are not trying to hurt anybody, or glorify the crime, theyre just trying to make a funny story. But, he cautioned, we cant say that it doesnt matter that a person is only selling coupons when we look at the amount of economic damage that does., Counterfeiters like the three Phoenix women, and the many customers who bought coupons from them, are fully aware that what theyre doing is wrong, Lake believes. He has been commended by the FBI for supporting them in numerous efforts to fight "complex coupon fraud schemes." Connie, JoJo, Simon (Vince Vaughn) and Ken (Paul Walter Hauser) arewhat Aron and I feelwhat we're all often feeling in this life: undervalued and discounted. At $300 a month, even if she stays current in her payments, it will take more than 120 years to pay off her share of the restitution order. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? The coupons are being sent through the mail and the FBI does not take it seriouslybecause it's coupons. These companies included Hershey, Procter & Gamble, and the Coupon Information Corporation. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. Here . "[Ringleader Robin Ramirez] would bring in these coupons from overseas in large quantities, quantities we never could imagine and she would sell them on her website for about 50 percent of face value," said Sgt. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. But the coupons were high-quality counterfeits. The film revolves around an ordinary suburban housewife's desire to forge her own path, which ultimately leads her to the world of scams. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. That is the basic premise of Queenpins, a comedy reuniting The Good Place co-stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two leads. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. She really likes to watch out the window as we land and it helps calm her down. Queenpins, directed and written by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, adapts a real-life story and presents it most humorously and entertainingly. The opening scenes show Bell's character getting arrested before a flashback to explain what happened. "You've got yourself an eighteen-karat run of bad luck, kid.". David Lake of the Phoenix Police Department. US Postal Inspector Simon Kilmurry (Vince Vaughn) appears to be entirely fictional. Dejected and frustrated suburban housewife Connie Kaminski (ne Stevens), a three-time gold-medal-winning former Olympic racewalker, has followed the conventional life path set for her by society ever since she was young. Related:Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide. Upon realizing that they could get a coupon for a free item sent to them just by complaining to the manufacturer, they come up with a plan to smuggle and steal cases of those coupons, to then sell to people. Fountain and Johnson both still live and work in the Phoenix area, in professions that have nothing to do with coupons. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. the three womens 2012 arrests for coupon fraud, the major motion picture they inspired is set to open in theaters this Friday, were ordered to pay nearly $1.3 million in restitution to Procter & Gamble, REVIEW: Queenpins Takes Coupon Counterfeiting to Extremes, The Cast and Crew of Queenpins Take a Crash Course in Coupons, Coupon Industry Gets Ready For Its Closeup, In Queenpins, A Q&A With the Creators of Queenpins, the Counterfeit Coupon Caper. The last 20 minutes lose sight of whatever point they are trying to make beyond the fun of seeing people get away with breaking the rules. Carly Stern For Dailymail.com , updated [4] In September 2020, Kirby Howell-Baptiste joined the cast of the film, replacing Jones, with Ben Stiller joining as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner, with STX Entertainment set to distribute. Although both women also had to financially reimburse P&G, they did not have to serve jail time for their part in the scheme. The Phoenix Police Department conducted undercover operations in which they purchased the counterfeit coupons. Ramirezs case was back before a judge as recently as July, when her probation officer reported she was falling behind on her share of the nearly $1.3 million in restitution payments she and her cohorts were ordered to pay. -TIME, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. When we're with Connie and JoJo, the tone of "Queenpins" is upbeat and sit-com-y, with Dolly Parton on the soundtrack telling us everything is going to be all right. On the case to bust them: a supermarket's. But all were ordered to pay nearly $1.3 million in restitution to Procter & Gamble, just one of the many manufacturers whose coupons they counterfeited and sold. The true story behind Queenpins reveals that the women bought them in bulk overseas and then posted them for sale on sites like eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com, which is now defunct. It all sounded so unbelievable and over the top, and we knew the story had the makings for a great comedy., So while the women may not be thrilled to see their pasts dredged up and played for laughs on the big screen, Lake is hopeful that moviegoers wont come away with the wrong idea about creating or using counterfeit coupons. Now, with their story back in the spotlight, theres no escaping it, even nearly ten years later. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. She was the only one of the three to receive jail time. After six months, the pair figure their money is safe to use, but because the money is dirty, they need to spend and clean it. They also seized more than $2 million in other assets, including 22 guns, cash, 21 vehicles, and a speed boat. By mail. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Coupons in the News features daily news stories and information about coupons, grocery shopping and saving money. Tempe Tina does not have a real-life counterpart. I'd call it a buddy film on a couple of levels: The main characters, Connie and Jo, and then the sub-characters, Simon and Ken. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Ukrainian soldier takes out five tanks with Javelin missiles, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Hershey's Canada releases HER for SHE bars featuring a trans activist, Moment teenager crashes into back of lorry after 100mph police race. 'We were ordering hundreds of dollars in coupons every month,' one anonymous user toldKentuckys WPSD. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. 'Its like Robin Hood,' Howell-Baptiste's character says in the trailer, summing up the coupon fraud plan. That's the psychological illogic of coupons, referred to in the movie as the "coupon high." While the characters in Queenpins are fictional, the crime they came up with is the real deal. Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's Queenpins concerns two Arizona suburbanites, Connie (Kristen Bell) and JoJo (Kirby . The group would have fake coupons made oversees, including reproductions of legitimate coupons and made-up ones with steep savings. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. Watch Queenpins: Bebe Rexha On The Experience She's Had So Far Acting In Her First Film Photos 17 Top cast Edit Kristen Bell Connie Kirby JoJo (as Kirby Howell-Baptiste) Paul Walter Hauser Ken Bebe Rexha Tempe Tina Lidia Porto Mrs. Flores Joel McHale Rick Greta Oglesby Mama Josie Eduardo Franco Greg (Cashier) Ben Sidell Man in Line Nneoma Sampson Instead, he becomes highly frustrated when the FBI blows off his concerns. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. Ramirez, then 40, Fountain, then 42, and Johnson, then 54, were arrested andcharged with counterfeiting, forgery, money laundering, operating an illegal enterprise, and other crimes. "We're Robin Hood," the queenpins reassure themselves. They were just two normal women, who felt taken advantage of by major corporations, and genuinely wanted to help other women and families who were struggling. The other queenpin is Connie's neighbor and close friend JoJo (Howell-Baptiste), who was a victim of identity theft that ruined her credit and her ability to apply for jobs. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. Related:Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like. Bud Miller, who was the Executive Director of the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC), told money-saving columnist Jill Cataldo, "Initial contact was made by a SWAT team removing the front door of a residence by force. Thats the type of money they had.. She portrays a fictional computer hacker named Tempe Tina, who helps the two main characters with their coupon scam. Dave Lake told CBS5 later. Will DiGravio is a Brooklyn-based critic, researcher, and video essayist, who has been a contributor at Film School Rejects since 2018. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. 17:23 EST 23 Jul 2021 And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. Upon realizing that they could get a coupon for a free item sent to them just by complaining to the manufacturer, they come up with a plan to smuggle and steal cases of those coupons, to then sell to people. I went to the detectives and I said, we have what appears to be a large multimillion-dollar, maybe hundreds of millions of dollars, theft affecting over 240 victims, the now-retired Lake told Coupons in the News. When Phoenix police seized the counterfeit coupons and the women's assets, they discovered computer records that listed all of the customers who had purchased coupons from the women. Now that theyve done their time and are working to pay off their debt, the women appear to be trying to put the incident behind them. On the other side we have faceless and barely acknowledged corporations (always a convenient bad guy) and an LPO (loss prevention officer, a fancy title for private security). You know what, I bet if a better actor were playing Ken Miller, thered probably be a little fine tooth combing involved with the world of loss prevention. Ken: Yeah no, even if I wanted to switch, I think it's more important that your daughter learn a valuable lesson. Howell-Baptiste previously worked with Bell on Veronica Mars and The Good Place. Yes, a bear actually did consumer millions of dollars worth of cocaine. They were a part of a fast-rising category referred to as "pink collar criminals," "nice" suburban women who commit non-violent crimes, mostly fraud or embezzling from businesses or from community organizations like the PTA. 'We used undercover and covert operations to make purchases and to identify the three suspects,' Holmes said. Required fields are marked *. Directed and written by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the movie stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Vince Vaughn, Paul Walter Hauser, and Bebe Rexha. The film's largely painful humor is informed by the mistaken belief that the main characters' criminal enterprise is inherently quirky. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows" (Yahoo Finance). Follow and/or unfollow him on Twitter. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. Except that these ladies sold unauthorized or forged coupons for a fraction of the face value to consumers who used them to get lots and lots of stuff without paying for it. And thats why they make excuses, he said. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. We're all looking for a loophole to find our joy and happiness in life." Lets break it down. McHaleis perhaps best known for his role inCommunity, and will next be starring in the series Black Box. After multiple, very expensive fertility treatment failures, she and her IRS auditor husband (Joel McHale, given nothing to do) are estranged and deeply in debt. Details of the true story at the heart of Queenpinswere first revealed in July 2012. After complaining about cereal gone stale, the pair receives dozens of freebies, inspiring them to hatch an illegal coupon club scheme. It might have been more interesting to have lead police officer on the case a woman, as it was in the actual arrest. [7], Principal photography began in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. Because they arent exactly hardened criminals, they think that the money theyve made through their shell company has to be laundered, so they bought all these high priced items with the intent to just immediately resell them. This is much more inspired So we dont really know anything about the real players and we kind of didnt want to. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. Bud Miller is thought to have loosely inspired Paul Walter Hauser's character in the movie, Ken Miller. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste star in this based-on-a-true-story film about a pair of women whose coupon-counterfeiting operation turned into more than they bargained for. The comments below have not been moderated, By By The trailer for Queenpinsincludes audio of Bell and Howell-Baptistes characters calling out systemic inequality and likening themselves to Robin Hood. In Queenpins, its Ken Miller who pleads with the FBI to get involved, but in the end, he ends up working with Vince Vaughns postal inspector character, with the reasoning being that the crime was technically committed via snail mail. FREE FIRE TOP 3 GAME REAL CHARACTER para SAMSUNG A3,A5,A6 A7,J2,J5,J7,S5,S6 S7,S9,A10,A20 A30,A50 "You are spending money we don't have," her husband says, looking at what was once supposed to be a nursery, now converted into what looks like a grocery warehouse. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. According to Coupons in the News, Ramierz started selling counterfeit coupons as early as 2007, and was eventually joined by the other two women. [8], In June 2021, Showtime and Paramount+ acquired U.S. pay TV and streaming rights to the film for about $20 million. They were just two normal women, who felt taken advantage of by major corporations, and genuinely wanted to help other women and families who were struggling. See production, box office & company info. Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste, playing the lead roles, are as spectacular as ever. In real life, the Phoenix Police Department led the investigation with the assistance of the FBI. This includes forums and any public viewing areas or websites.". Queenpins' cast of characters also includes familiar faces like Bebe Rexha, Vince Vaughn, and Joel McHale in supporting roles. While it's hard to know how many customers knew they might be engaging in criminal activity, there were a few red flags that should have at least made them suspicious. But Aron [Gaudet]and Gita [Pullapilly], as storytellers our writer and directors have added so many specific elements of storytelling to this about what Connies career was, what Jojos career was, their circumstances in life in order to create a story that you would root for, and then it sort of goes into the nonfiction aspect that it sort of wasnt maybe as necessary to take on a ton of the real life characteristics of the women.. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. Queenpins is Rexha's first major acting role. She spends her free time drinking coffee and trying to resist the urge to buy any new books before reading the many she already owns. Kristen Bell as Connie Kaminski Kristen Bell stars as Connie Kaminski, a suburban housewife who just wants to find a solution for the debt burying her and her husband. She was most likely added to the script for comedic reasons in order to frame Connie and JoJo as being in over their heads and desperately needing outside help. And after reading the script and falling massively in love with it, because it was such a grounded comedy, I did some research about these women. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. Click here to get in touch, or for information about advertising on the site. Much the same can be said for Paul Walter Houser, who plays Ken Miller, the loss prevention officer that uncovers and eventually busts Connie and Jojos scam. A look at what really happened with the characters of Andrew Dominiks 2007 Western epic. His filmography contains works such as Face/Off, The Astronaut's Wife, and The Hangover Part II, and he will next be appearing inThe Ogilvy Fortune. Queenpins' true story is based on the couponing scam designed by three Arizona women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. Before playing Agent Park, he was inTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,Wreck-It Ralph, Bob's Burgers, and many others. Your email address will not be published. Autumn Cejer is a Movie/TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. Marilyn Johnson, 54, Robin Ramirez, 40, and Amiko Fountain, 42, were taken into custody, and in a press conference, police said a search warrant served resulted in the seizing of $40 million worth of coupons and $2 million worth of assets from the womens homes, including $240,000 in vehicles, 22 guns, and a 40-foot speedboat. Thats money in the bank.'. Not only does Arizona state law forbid convicted criminals from profiting by selling their story, but writer-directors Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly have emphasized that their story is an entirely fictional version of the real thing. In Queenpins, its Ken Miller who pleads with the FBI to get involved, but in the end, he ends up working with Vince Vaughns postal inspector character, with the reasoning being that the crime was technically committed via snail mail. A look at the counterculture movement that became the religious right. Law-enforcement authorities, manufacturers, and retailers advise against purchasing coupons. Because they arent exactly hardened criminals, they think that the money theyve made through their shell company has to be laundered, so they bought all these high priced items with the intent to just immediately resell them. The two women in the movie, Connie Kaminski (Kristen Bell) and JoJo Johnson (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), are not directly based on any of the real-life women.Kristen Bell's character's background of being a former Olympic race walker who turns to couponing after having no luck getting pregnant (and spending tens of thousands on in vitro treatments) is fictional, as is Kirby Howell-Baptiste's character's unsuccessful efforts to make it as a vlogger.