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From left, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. Bud is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and an industry veteran. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). Related:Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like. For diapers and toothpaste. 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. -Investigative Consultants. They may also expose themselves to additional risk by providing their names, home addresses, and financial information to organized crime rings." -TIME. However, he doesn't appear to have inspired Vaughn's Kilmurry. 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. 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. 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. Ill go out on a limb here and predict that their once noble intentions go off the rails. 'Queenpins' Plot Summary 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. 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. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. 'Sometimes I would come out with three carts of groceries.'. Vince Vaughnas Simon Kilmurry -Vince Vaughn plays Simon Kilmurry, a U.S. postal inspector who works with Ken to investigate the coupon scam. 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. (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. He has been commended by the FBI for supporting them in numerous efforts to fight "complex coupon fraud schemes." Judge Rosa Mroz of Maricopa County Superior Court ordered all three to payProcter & Gamble $1,288,682 in reimbursement. We dont want people to think its funny. The character mainly functions to forward the plot and as the other half of the "buddy-cop" duo with Ken Miller (Paul Walter Hauser). Unilever also claimed losses, pointing to five particular coupons that had been founded in Ramirezs home, though a judge ruled that they couldn't prove that the three women were responsible for selling them. The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. Then-forty-year-old Robin Ramirez led the group, which included Marilyn Johnson, then-fifty-four, and Amiko Amy Fountain, then-forty-two. 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. It is also revealed that Connie, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to conceive following her miscarriage, is finally pregnant through in vitro fertilization. "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. And it does seem like Queenpinswill take a comedic look at the inequality underpinning the counterfeit coupon market. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. The fake coupon game isnt a joke. 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. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. [12] Hauser's performance as fraud specialist Ken Miller received praise from critics who praised his onscreen chemistry with Vaughn while noting that the film established him as a comedic actor after his breakthrough role in 2019's Richard Jewell. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows. 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. A judge sentenced Ramirez to twenty-four months in prison and seven years probation. Postal Inspector lead the investigation into their activities, encountering multiple humorous setbacks along the way. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. I'd recommend this film for unwinding on a Friday night after a long week. The duo then interview a group of postal workers, who remember JoJo, especially because Earl is always watching her videos. 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. And why Bell and co-star Paul Walter Houser didnt talk to the real people behind the characters they play. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. Queenpins, directed and written by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, adapts a real-life story and presents it most humorously and entertainingly. 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 doesn't work closely with the FBI. 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. In this film we have one of the world's most adorable people, Kristen Bell, with her delightful "The Good Place" co-star Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two women who almost make a multi-million dollar crime seem cute. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". Couponing goes criminal in the new trailer for Queenpins. Yes, a bear actually did consumer millions of dollars worth of cocaine. The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in theCBS TV docu-series Pink Collar Crimes in 2018. A real disc jockey inspired Robin Williams classic character. Thats the type of money they had.. Rexha's character helps Connie and JoJo evade the authorities, mainly by strengthening their internet security. "I am not spending money!" Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. Visitors to the Savvy Shopper Site website could buy high-value coupons offering free items like detergent, diapers, pet food and more, for pennies on the dollar. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. 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 Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. This happened after various companies that had been impacted by the bogus coupons hired private investigators to uncover the origins of the coupons. By Of course, the trailer also shows them later living in luxury and boarding private jets. Yes. The movie takes a more lighthearted angle on the real story, having to combine ortweak some of the people involved in order towork better as a film. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. Lets break it down. The Coupon Queens cheated as many as 40 major manufacturers (Business Insider). The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. Ramirez, Fountain and Johnson were charged and convicted for running their very own $40 million counterfeit coupon scheme, for which theyre still paying the price and may well be for the rest of their lives. Why the USPS? This is much more inspired So we dont really know anything about the real players and we kind of didnt want to. [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. [5] In October 2020, Bebe Rexha joined the cast of the film. Un par de amas de casa crean una estafa de cupones de 40 millones de dlares. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. For the most part, yes. 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 trail led to the Arizona coupon ring located in Phoenix. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? The pair are currently starring as crooked coupon buddies in the crime comedy "Queenpins," written and directed by husband-and-wife duo Aron. We just wanted to create our own characters.. The Queenpins true story reveals that there were three women involved in the real-life scheme, not two like in the movie. Jack McBrayerasAgent Park - McBrayer has extensive experience in comedy. 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. Yes. 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. Credit: Courtesy STX Films "They're also some of the best writers I've ever worked with. The opening scenes show Bell's character getting arrested before a flashback to explain what happened. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. 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). Ramirez, Fountain and Johnson are now having to live with what they did. "I'm saving money!" No. 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. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. 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. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. Click here to get in touch, or for information about advertising on the site. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. The women guaranteed a one-hundred-percent return rate if a store rejected one of their coupons. Analysts Predict More Deals in the Grocery Store This Year, Savings Apps Are All the Rage This One Most of All, Grocery Shoppers Shrug Off A Tumultuous Year, Couponer Is Dealt A Final Setback In Decade-Old Dispute. When Connie discovers that a complaint letter about stale cereal earned her a coupon for a free box, it's a short road to finding a $2 an hour employee at the Mexico coupon printing plant (moved from the US to save money) who is willing to send them extras. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. Their unbelievable success eventually catches the attention of law enforcement. A bright spot is Bebe Rexha as a dark web expert who helps Connie and Jojo launder their money. "[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". We're all looking for a loophole to find our joy and happiness in life." Coupon enthusiast Jill Cataldo warns, "Even though many places sell coupons online, you should never buy them. 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. All three women were arrested and charged with forgery, fraud and counterfeiting. Dave Lake told CBS5 later. You Are Reading :Queenpins Cast And Character Guide Where You Know The Actors From. 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. He can next be seen in the movie Delia's Gone. Queenpins. 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. 17:23 EST 23 Jul 2021 Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. It isvery pleasurable in the moment but likely to leave you feeling empty and a little queasy. And thats why they make excuses, he said. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. "This is to American companies who produced American products and hire American citizens" (DSA). Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste, playing the lead roles, are as spectacular as ever. Here . [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. You can't make this stuff up - and the filmmakers didn't have to. Produced by Music by Siddhartha Khosla . [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), Review: Scamming Audiences with Sophomoric Humor and Dubious Politics. Ramirez, the ringleader, was the only one sentenced to prison time two years while her counterparts got probation. It was then that they learned of the fakes that were in circulation. Meanwhile, Ken is partnered with U.S. postal inspector Simon Kilmurry. But Lake determinedly led his team in pursuing the case. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. As one law enforcement official put it, these were not the fifty-cents-off coupons one might find in their mailbox. She portrays a fictional computer hacker named Tempe Tina, who helps the two main characters with their coupon scam. 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.. -Daily Mail. 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. It might have been more interesting to have lead police officer on the case a woman, as it was in the actual arrest. [8], In June 2021, Showtime and Paramount+ acquired U.S. pay TV and streaming rights to the film for about $20 million. Johnson helped package and ship the coupons to customers, and Fountain placed hologram stickers on some of them to make them look more legitimate. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. They encounter married employees Alejandro and Rosa Diaz, who agree to send them the unused coupons. The film's largely painful humor is informed by the mistaken belief that the main characters' criminal enterprise is inherently quirky. While the characters in the 2021 movieQueenpins call out systemic inequality and the downfalls of capitalism, it's unlikely that their real-life counterparts shared these same sentiments. No Offense, But These 2 Big Retailers Aren't The Cheapest Ad MoneyWise. Kristen Bell And Kirby Howell-Baptiste Run A Multi-Million Dollar Coupon Scam In The 'Queenpins' Trailer. She suggestsmaking fake identities and multiple accounts to store their earnings. Bebe Rexha is the tech genius, Tempe Tina. However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. 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. 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.. She really likes to watch out the window as we land and it helps calm her down. Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha makes her feature film debut in the Queenpins movie. The only real-life individual you could say was better off after the case than before, is the man who cracked the case. So they may be the first ones to tell you that coupon crime may make for a great Hollywood comedy but in real life, its no laughing matter. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. 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. The cruelty-free sacred oil that will anoint Charles as King: Monarch breaks Coronation Day tradition with 'I have nothing to say to you': Father of Mallory Beach - who was killed in a boat crash while Alex Murdaugh's Alex Murdaugh is seen with his prison buzz cut as he starts two life sentences without parole for killing his Family 'mortified' after being thrown out of Mother Goose panto for bringing their baby with them, after venue Is this Britain's most despicable man? Some customers became aware of the bust after they tried to use the coupons and they didn't work. 'Queenpins' Review: Suburban Scammers Two cash-strapped neighbors devise a multimillion-dollar coupon swindle in this mildly entertaining comedy. 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. People who purchased coupons on the site could use them for an item and even get cash back if the value of the coupon exceeded the item's price. ', 'These people aren't buying a few coupons from this site,' Officer James Holmes added. Like a coupon high, the fun of this movie does not last. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. According to Time magazine, they went undercover and purchased coupons as part of their effort to locate the source. Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise. Autumn has a Master of Arts in English from Northern Michigan University, where she also taught superhero-themed composition courses. In May 2019, it was announced Kristen Bell and Leslie Jones had joined the cast of the film, with Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly directing from a screenplay they wrote. David Lake of the Phoenix Police Department. 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. Ame shielded her eyes from the sunlight, "It's just that it's been a while since I've been on duty at daytime.". July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women, Tom Sizemore, star of 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Heat,' dies at 61 after brain aneurysm, Josh Hartnett is done talking about his break from Hollywood but ready to make fun of actors: 'We're the worst', Michael B. Jordan admits muscle gain for 'Creed' has been harder as he's gotten older, Billy Bush suggests Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes start their own show after ABC exit: 'They've got something that works', How to watch every Oscars 2023 Best Picture nominee. Some of the coupon enthusiasts featured on the TLC show Extreme Couponing routinely purchased coupons from clipping services.In response to the Arizona coupon counterfeiting ring that inspired the Queenpins movie, the CIC's Bud Miller stated, "Coupon buyers expose themselves to the possibility of becoming involved with counterfeits, stolen property, or other criminal activities. Watching "Queenpins" is like eating grocery store birthday cake. After gathering sufficient evidence, Simon and Ken finally get agents to arrest the pair. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. Kristen Bell, her The Good Place co-star Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and singer Bebe Rexha are set to star in an upcoming comedy calledQueenpins, in which they play a trio of women who make bank in a coupon counterfeiting scam but the massive real-life fraud that inspired the film was no laughing matter. That's one reasonbeyond saving moneythe scam was so successful. 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. Details of the true story at the heart of Queenpinswere first revealed in July 2012. Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's Queenpins concerns two Arizona suburbanites, Connie (Kristen Bell) and JoJo (Kirby . I have never purchased coupons from a clipping service or an auction site." This is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. A look at what really happened with the characters of Andrew Dominiks 2007 Western epic. Afterwards, the duo begins their own website and small business "Savvy Super Saver", which helps them sell numerous coupons and generate profit. Required fields are marked *. Bud Miller is thought to have loosely inspired Paul Walter Hauser's character in the movie, Ken Miller. Shecan next be seen in the indie film Silent Night and later inThe Sandman TV series. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Queenpins is Rexha's first major acting role. But lets be honest: its hard to feel too sorry for the corporations in this instance. You could only place an order if you had a referral from a current customer, and you had to pay for your order with a Green Dot Moneypak (prepaid debit card). [1] It was released on September 10, 2021. She has spent her life chatting about popular media to anyone who would listen, even appearing on conference panels to discuss her favorite (and least favorite) shows and movies. The site's name was inspired by the legit coupon magazine Savvy Shopper, which is in no way related. Had their deals been a little worse, maybe the women would have never gotten caught. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. But can you live with what you did?. 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. Bell has extensive experience in Broadway, television, and film, leading successful TV series like Veronica Mars and The Good Place. 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. They also seized more than $2 million in other assets, including 22 guns, cash, 21 vehicles, and a speed boat. He described digging through trash cans, conducting surveillance, and ultimately kicking in the doors of the three womens homes, where they found a treasure trove of evidence coupons, cash, guns, along with what they later discovered was an airplane hangar filled with sports cars, a fully decked-out RV and a 40-foot speedboat. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Whatever Happened to the Real-Life Queenpins? 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. For example, a person could use a $25 coupon to purchase a $15 bag of dog food and receive the difference in cash. Queenpins' true story is based on the couponing scam designed by three Arizona women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. Your email address will not be published. Her ancestry is Polish (mother) and German, English, Irish, and Scottish (father). Shedisplays considerable comedy chopsin films like Bad Momsand is also well-known for her role as Anna inDisney's Frozen franchise. Although both women also had to financially reimburse P&G, they did not have to serve jail time for their part in the scheme. 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. Because at Coupons In The News, we believe an educated consumer is the best couponer! [6] In December 2020, Dayo Okeniyi, Joel McHale, Nick Cassavetes, Michael Masini, Paul Rust, Eduardo Franco, Marc Evan Jackson, Lidia Porto, Greta Oglesby, Jack McBrayer and Annie Mumolo joined the cast of the film. Queenpins is a quirky crime comedy inspired by a trio of women who made millions of dollars in an elaborate coupon scam. On the real Queenpins website, SavvyShopperSite.com, they sold free-product coupons, with the caveat that you must spend at least $50 on coupons per order.