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This film wasn't deep, and at times it stretched credibility, but it was fun and engaging. Netherlands ($200,244), United Arab Emirates ($123,281), Hungary ($88,609), Croatia ($41,810), Lithuania ($18,354), Iceland ($11,774), South Africa ($5,900) and Portugal ($5,501). She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. -TIME. However, Ken Miller, a hapless loss prevention officer for the A&G Family Marts stores in the Southwestern United States, learns about the coupons and the losses several companies are taking, and pressures his superiors before ultimately deciding to handle the case himself. After tracing the origins of the ring to Phoenix, the FBI then teamed up with local law enforcement to bust the group. They may also expose themselves to additional risk by providing their names, home addresses, and financial information to organized crime rings." [Resumes eating snacks and looking out the window], Watch Queenpins: Gita Pullapilly & Aron Gaudet On Why Kristen Bell And Kirby Howell-Baptiste Were Right For Their Roles, Watch Queenpins: Kristen Bell On How She Became Involved In The Film, Watch Queenpins: Paul Walter Hauser On What Drew Him To The Film, Watch Queenpins: Kirby Howell-Baptiste On How She Became Involved In The Film, Watch Queenpins: Bebe Rexha On The Experience She's Had So Far Acting In Her First Film. Talk about extreme couponing! The comedy Queenpins is inspired by the largest coupon scam in U.S. history. Coupons wasnt even the biggest, most interesting case I did. 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. When we use coupons, we feel like we're getting away with something, like we're smart and special. 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. Slapstick . But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. 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.. Thecomedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. That's one reasonbeyond saving moneythe scam was so successful. Kirby Howell-Baptiste co-stars as JoJo Johnson, an aspiring YouTube vlogger and Connie's partner in crime. Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste, playing the lead roles, are as spectacular as ever. Greg Garcia, a cashier at her local A&G Family Marts store, explains to her that companies habitually respond to complaint letters by sending coupons for free items. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? The cast, with Kristen Bell and Paul Walter Hauser, is outstanding The Arizona women, Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain, pleaded guilty, Ramirez to. "[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". There's a reason Bell is making quips about crime. The trios many customers never faced charges but they might have. 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. A judge sentenced Ramirez to twenty-four months in prison and seven years probation. Authorities eventually traced Ramirezs activity back to 2007. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. A Loss Prevention Officer and U.S. 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. Had the system been better then, Lake said, we could have arrested probably another 50 people at least, who were buying hundreds of these coupons at a time and saying, I know theyre fake, but they work great.. Thats the type of money they had.. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. They start buying things like sports cars, boats, planes, and guns, but Tina then criticizes their overspending and tells them that because their money was always clean, their purchases are just making them look more suspicious, instructing them to withdraw money from the bank in small increments and to sell off all their big purchases. She has also worked on soundtracks for movies like Abominable and, most recently, He's All That. These companies included Hershey, Procter & Gamble, and the Coupon Information Corporation. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time. See production, box office & company info. The Coupon Information Corporation got wind of the scheme, and brought it to the attention of investigators, which is how it eventually landed on the desk of Phoenix Police Sergeant David Lake. 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. The Phoenix Police Department conducted undercover operations in which they purchased the counterfeit coupons. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Queenpins is Rexha's first major acting role. On a message board, one fan raved about paying $7 for a mega pack of Pampers, with no max value meaning a shopper could get more than $50 worth of product free. Some movies are based on true stories, some movies are inspired by true stories. 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. Capitalism always knows how to win. , updated 'They're buying bunches, and they're redeeming them in bunches.'. Users had to be 'invited' to join the site, and fans raved about the impossibly good deals, like a coupon for a free pizza worth $7 that would cost shoppers just $1. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. We're all looking for a loophole to find our joy and happiness in life." But thats just Connie and Jojo. Rexha's character helps Connie and JoJo evade the authorities, mainly by strengthening their internet security. On the case to bust them: a supermarket's. Yes. Aron and I were immediately drawn to the story and had to understand it more, Pullapilly said. The three real-life Coupon Queens carried out their counterfeit operation in Phoenix, Arizona where they lived. So will Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson be going to see Queenpins this weekend? 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. 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. Joel McHaleas Rick Kaminski- McHale plays Connie's husband who is worried about their growing amount of debt. The other two women pleaded guilty to a single charge of counterfeiting. director of photography Film Editing by Kayla Emter . Autumn Cejer is a Movie/TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam.A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam.A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. Fountain and Johnson each pleaded guilty to one charge of counterfeiting. This is much more inspired So we dont really know anything about the real players and we kind of didnt want to. Queenpins is a quirky crime comedy inspired by a trio of women who made millions of dollars in an elaborate coupon scam. (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in the. Dave Lake told CBS5 later. 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. Bebe Rexha is the tech genius, Tempe Tina. 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. While JoJo is released on bail, Rick visits Connie only so he can admonish her, having been informed by Simon that she and JoJo have defrauded over 240 companies of tens of millions of dollars. We dont want people to think its funny. 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. Its that simple. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Being clever with coupons makes her feel like she is making a financial contribution. While it might seem outrageous and is played for laughs in the movie, in July 2012, a SWAT team really did raid the Phoenix residences of the three women who played a part in the counterfeit coupon operation. 'Queenpins' Review: Suburban Scammers Two cash-strapped neighbors devise a multimillion-dollar coupon swindle in this mildly entertaining comedy. Paul Walter Hauser's character, Ken Miller, seems to be a very loosely-inspired caricature of Bud Miller, the Executive Director of the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC). The details were first revealed after a Tuesday morning raid in July 2012 by the Phoenix Arizona Police Department. They included coupons for anything from Hershey bars to dog food to diapers. Tempe Tina does not have a real-life counterpart. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. In July of 2012, police raided Ramirez's home andseized more than $25 million worth of fake coupons. Your email address will not be published. -Daily Mail. '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." After a shootout breaks out at a jazz club in the heart of town over a 'transaction' gone wrong, the Shrimps of Ocean Street and the Deadbeats of Industrial Way prepare to fight. 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. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". So even though the events of nearly a decade ago seem like old news to the rest of us, its something the culprits continue to live with. David Lake of the Phoenix Police Department. 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. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. Vince Vaughn's other moviesincludemany big-budget action films and comedies such as The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Wedding Crashers. The ladies account is frozen due to suspicious activity, so Connie realizes they need to prove their business is legitimate. However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. That is the basic premise of Queenpins, a comedy reuniting The Good Placeco-stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two leads. Queenpins is playing in theaters with plans to stream on Paramount+ in the near future. Queenpins Cast And Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From, Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like, Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide, Q-Force Cast & Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From. He also doesn't work closely with the FBI. 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. This happened after various companies that had been impacted by the bogus coupons hired private investigators to uncover the origins of the coupons. Herreal-life counterpart isRobin Ramirez, who police considered the ringleader of the criminal operation. They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). Judge Rosa Mroz of Maricopa County Superior Court ordered all three to payProcter & Gamble $1,288,682 in reimbursement. -Investigative Consultants. $100,000 x 40 is 4 million not 40 million. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. [5] In October 2020, Bebe Rexha joined the cast of the film. She really likes to watch out the window as we land and it helps calm her down. It's not a seamless fit. The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in theCBS TV docu-series Pink Collar Crimes in 2018. Although both women also had to financially reimburse P&G, they did not have to serve jail time for their part in the scheme. David Lake, who was in charge of the coupon investigation at the Phoenix Police Department, "The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type stuff." They also turned to the Coupon Information Corporation. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. But thats just Connie and Jojo. That would be too prestigious for Hauser's wannabe-cop Miller (Hauser borrows from his 2019 performance in Richard Jewell). David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. Perhaps the most telling sign that things weren't on the up-and-up was the fact that the site advised, "Please do not share this information with people that you don't actually know. 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. Afterwards, the duo begins their own website and small business "Savvy Super Saver", which helps them sell numerous coupons and generate profit. Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. For diapers and toothpaste. A real disc jockey inspired Robin Williams classic character. According to Time magazine, they went undercover and purchased coupons as part of their effort to locate the source. A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. No. Here . Of course, the trailer also shows them later living in luxury and boarding private jets. One local law enforcement official at the time told the news: The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. She was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by seven years probation. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. She does not seem to take it too seriously, telling us that "this is a story about little old coupons.". No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. Next:Q-Force Cast & Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From. He'd be scary if the film didn't make him the literal butt of the joke. Queenpins (2021) Rated R for language throughout. Shecan next be seen in the indie film Silent Night and later inThe Sandman TV series. Those are intriguing issues but themovie is less interested in exploring them than it is giving the queenpins makeovers and silly plot detours involving a militia and extended scatological humor. 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. Related:Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide. Lets break it down. Carly Stern For Dailymail.com, Dax Shepard wishes wife Kristen Bell a happy 41st birthday: 'Here's wishing you another 100 years in the saddle', Conwoman, 60, accused of posing as gem expert to swap diamonds worth 4.2m for pebbles was caught on CCTV outside Mayfair jeweller Boodles the day before heist, court hears. A trailer released this month shows how a suburban housewife (Bell) and her coupon vlogger friend (Howell-Baptiste) come up with a scheme to sell fake coupons online, earning them millions of dollars while contributing to costly losses for brands like Proctor & Gamble andUnilever. -TIME, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. Savvy Shopper Site had a few other suspicious requirements. The coupons are being sent through the mail and the FBI does not take it seriouslybecause it's coupons. What is the Japanese language plot outline for Queenpins (2021)? The crime comedy is based on a counterfeit coupon empire that shocked law enforcement. And they get a monthly reminder every time they make their latest restitution payment. Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. However, he doesn't appear to have inspired Vaughn's Kilmurry. Mugshots of the real women behind Queenpins are displayed below. 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. 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. 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. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. 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. The CIC and some of its members were on location in a mobile command unit watching the bust." They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. Two women create a $40 million coupon scam. Rare $300 sign-up bonus card hits market Ad The Ascent. The site's name was inspired by the legit coupon magazine Savvy Shopper, which is in no way related. However, they quickly learned that with a little crime, they could actually make money off of it. These are free item coupons,' Police Sgt. Howell-Baptiste previously worked with Bell on Veronica Mars and The Good Place. (67) 6.3 1 h 50 min 2021 X-Ray R. A suburban homemaker and her best friend turn a hobby into a multi-million-dollar counterfeit coupon caper. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. Click here to get in touch, or for information about advertising on the site. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. 17:23 EST 23 Jul 2021 In real life, the Phoenix Police Department led the investigation with the assistance of the FBI. Coupon enthusiast Jill Cataldo warns, "Even though many places sell coupons online, you should never buy them. 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 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. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. 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. Queenpins: Dirigido por Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly. The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. Paul Walter Hauseras Ken Miller -Paul Walter Hauser plays Loss Prevention Officer Ken Miller, whoserather unexciting job takes a turn when he discovers the fake coupon scheme. In addition to the $40 million in counterfeit coupons that they confiscated, police seized $2 million in assets from the three women, including four homes, 22 guns, a 40-foot speed boat, and 21 vehicles. Despite the absurdity of the synopsis, believe it or not,Queenpins is based on a true story. Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's Queenpins concerns two Arizona suburbanites, Connie (Kristen Bell) and JoJo (Kirby . Before playing Agent Park, he was inTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,Wreck-It Ralph, Bob's Burgers, and many others. The fake coupon game isnt a joke. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. In February of 2013,Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise, though a forgery charge was dropped. 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. [7], Principal photography began in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then-forty-year-old Robin Ramirez led the group, which included Marilyn Johnson, then-fifty-four, and Amiko Amy Fountain, then-forty-two. Yes. According to Coupons in the News, Ramierz started selling counterfeit coupons as early as 2007, and was eventually joined by the other two women. She and JoJo then learn that the coupons originate from an Advanced Solutions factory in Chihuahua, Mexico, deciding to travel there and collect the coupons to redistribute to other mothers and wives. The movie, which premieres September 10, offers a comical take on the true story ofRobin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona, who were arrested in 2012 for their years-long counterfeitingracket and ordered to pay P&G millions in restitution. The trail led to the Arizona coupon ring located in Phoenix. The trailer for Queenpinsincludes audio of Bell and Howell-Baptistes characters calling out systemic inequality and likening themselves to Robin Hood. "This is to American companies who produced American products and hire American citizens" (DSA). They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. Credit: Courtesy STX Films "They're also some of the best writers I've ever worked with. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Though most of their fraudulent earnings have been confiscated, the pair have hundreds of thousands of dollars from their illegal activities stashed away, and JoJo starts a relationship with Earl and relocates to Montenegro, a non-extradition country, where the pair can immediately restart the scam upon Connie's release. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHO at the time. This is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. she says. Watching "Queenpins" is like eating grocery store birthday cake. Okeniyi appeared in The Hunger Games and Run Sweetheart Run, and his next role is in Greek Freak. The Coupon Queens cheated as many as 40 major manufacturers (Business Insider). "We knew, based on our research on past films, the more we dig into the real lives, it becomes much more serious, much more dramatic," Pullapilly told the, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Once there, buyers would have access to an array of high-dollar coupons. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. Queenpinsdebuted in theaters on September 10, 2021. The only real-life individual you could say was better off after the case than before, is the man who cracked the case. He can next be seen in the movie Delia's Gone. 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. Follow and/or unfollow him on Twitter. 110 minutes Cast Kristen Bell Kirby Howell-Baptiste as JoJo Paul Walter Hauser Vince Vaughn Joel McHale Bebe Rexha as Tempe Tina Dayo Okeniyi Nick Cassavetes Michael Masini Paul Rust Eduardo Franco Marc Evan Jackson Lidia Porto Greta Oglesby Jack McBrayer Annie Mumolo Director Aron Gaudet 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. It's very easy to say their words," says Kristen. In the wake of the bust, all three women pleaded guilty. But its funny that its gotten so much attention, Lake said. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. The women guaranteed a one-hundred-percent return rate if a store rejected one of their coupons. Annie MumoloasCrystal - Mumolo appears in the minor role of Crystal. Yes. The duo then interview a group of postal workers, who remember JoJo, especially because Earl is always watching her videos.