They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. It's very easy to say their words," says Kristen. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. By mail. 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 postal inspector tells Connie it's 1 year for every $100,000 earned fraudulently and that she's looking at 40 years. He'd be scary if the film didn't make him the literal butt of the joke. Once there, buyers would have access to an array of high-dollar coupons. They also seized more than $2 million in other assets, including 22 guns, cash, 21 vehicles, and a speed boat. 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. Queenpins (2021) Rated R for language throughout. However, he doesn't appear to have inspired Vaughn's Kilmurry. After a particularly frustrating day, Connie writes a complaint letter to General Mills about the Wheaties she ate being stale, and soon, she receives a coupon for a free box of cereal. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. 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. 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. Their unbelievable success eventually catches the attention of law enforcement. Her sacrifices have never been appreciated and she has been overlooked by her husband Rick, an IRS senior audit specialist, her loved ones and the rest of society. But thats just Connie and Jojo. The film revolves around an ordinary suburban housewife's desire to forge her own path, which ultimately leads her to the world of scams. Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com. 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. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. 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. Kristen Bell leads a strong cast in 'Queenpins,' in theaters Sept. 10 They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. In 2012, investigators found millions of dollars worth in forged coupons. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows. 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. 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. 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. The acting was solid, though the relatively unknown Paul Walter Hauser stole the movie. The trios many customers never faced charges but they might have. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. They were also ordered to pay Proctor & Gamble more than $1.2 million. 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. Though the pair face forty-years-to-life, the companies that they victimized clandestinely press the courts for leniency to avoid bad press, resulting in ten days imprisonment plus one year of probation for JoJo and eleven months incarceration (parole eligible in eight) for Connie. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. The other two women pleaded guilty to a single charge of counterfeiting. Queenpins Writers Balance Comedic Tone with Real-Life Drama in Coupon Related:Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. After he retired from the force, he took what he had learned from this case and others like it to found the Center on Shadow Economics, which works to mitigate the economic impact of black market crimes like counterfeit couponing. The details were first revealed after a Tuesday morning raid in July 2012 by the Phoenix Arizona Police Department. They also turned to the Coupon Information Corporation. Produced by Music by Siddhartha Khosla . When we use coupons, we feel like we're getting away with something, like we're smart and special. And it seems like the makers of the movie share this sentiment. Judge Daniel Martin sentenced her to 24 months, as well as seven years probation. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. 'We were ordering hundreds of dollars in coupons every month,' one anonymous user toldKentuckys WPSD. On the case to bust them: a supermarkets loss-prevention officer and a US postal inspector, played by Paul Walter HauserandVince Vaughn, respectively. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. Why the USPS? The crime comedy is based on a counterfeit coupon empire that shocked law enforcement. Lets break it down. But the coupons were high-quality counterfeits. [13], Last edited on 16 February 2023, at 04:25, "STXfilms' Kristen Bell Coupon Clipping Scam Comedy 'Queenpins' Sells US For $20M+ To Paramount+ & Showtime", "Leslie Jones-Kristen Bell Coupon Caper 'Queenpins' Lands With Rocket Science Cannes", "Vince Vaughn & Paul Walter Hauser Join Comedy 'Queenpins' With Leslie Jones & Kristen Bell", "Kristen Bell & Kirby Howell-Baptiste Coupon Scam Comedy 'Queenpins' Snapped Up By STX Toronto", "Bebe Rexha Joins Kristen Bell in Comedy 'Queenpins', "Dayo Okeniyi, Joel McHale, Nick Cassavetes, Michael Masini, Eduardo Franco, Paul Rust And 3 More Join 'Queenpins'; Jack McBrayer And Annie Mumolo To Cameo", "And so it begins #Queenpins", "STX Dates 'Queenpins', 'National Champions', 'Violence Of Action' & Untitled Guy Ritchie Movie For 2021 & Beyond", "Paul Walter Hauser Quietly Steals Delightful Crime Comedy 'Queenpins', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Queenpins&oldid=1139643182, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 04:25. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. 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. Instead, Hauser's character is a loss-prevention officer for a grocery store chain. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. [7], Principal photography began in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy Ramirez, Fountain and Johnson are now having to live with what they did. Instead we have LPOKen Miller (Paul Walter Hauser), a dedicated but comically awkward stickler for the rules, who is eventuallyjoined by an investigator from the USPS (Vince Vaughn, nailing just the right mix of exhausted irritation and integrity). McHaleis perhaps best known for his role inCommunity, and will next be starring in the series Black Box. -Investigative Consultants. The Queenpins true story reveals that there were three women involved in the real-life scheme, not two like in the movie. It's not a seamless fit. I have never purchased coupons from a clipping service or an auction site." But during Proctor & Gamble'sroutine audits ofthird-party coupon processors, the discovered fakes in circulation and hired private investigators to do some more digging. The REAL story behind Kristen Bell's upcoming movie Queenpins Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. 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. For the most part, yes. However, they quickly learned that with a little crime, they could actually make money off of it. 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. They were charged with counterfeiting, forgery, operating an illegal enterprise, money laundering, and other violations. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. 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. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. "You've got yourself an eighteen-karat run of bad luck, kid.". Bud Miller, Executive Director of the Coupon Information Center, told money-saving columnist Jill Cataldo at the time, "These customers should expect contact in the future." Others nabbed coupons for free pet food, diapers, and household goods from as many as 40 major manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Hershey. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. A look at what really happened with the characters of Andrew Dominiks 2007 Western epic. According to Time magazine, they went undercover and purchased coupons as part of their effort to locate the source. This includes forums and any public viewing areas or websites.". It appeared the women were making so much money, they werent even sure how to spend it all. In July of 2012, police raided Ramirez's home andseized more than $25 million worth of fake coupons. 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.. The ladies account is frozen due to suspicious activity, so Connie realizes they need to prove their business is legitimate. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. HBOs Rain Dogs Finds Humor, Despair in the Working-Class Mum at its Center, Berlinale Highlights, Part Three: Hummingbirds, Concrete Valley, Afire, The Oneness of All Things: On Sofia Alaouis Animalia, New York International Childrens Film Festival Opens Window to the World. Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time. Law-enforcement authorities, manufacturers, and retailers advise against purchasing coupons. Their script is so nuanced and the words are chosen so perfectly. The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. No. 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. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Aron and I were immediately drawn to the story and had to understand it more, Pullapilly said. [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. But its funny that its gotten so much attention, Lake said. Queenpins, directed and written by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, adapts a real-life story and presents it most humorously and entertainingly. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. The three real-life Coupon Queens carried out their counterfeit operation in Phoenix, Arizona where they lived. Its that simple. [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. 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. She has also worked on soundtracks for movies like Abominable and, most recently, He's All That. She portrays a fictional computer hacker named Tempe Tina, who helps the two main characters with their coupon scam. she says. 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? Summary: Amelia Watson, a senior but loose cannon, problem child detective of City PD, has to prevent a war. 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. [5] In October 2020, Bebe Rexha joined the cast of the film. Lets break it down. A reality television series about this trend had an episode on the Arizona coupon case. Yes. 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. 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. Queenpins Movie Writer-Directors Aron Gaudet and Gita - Awardsdaily 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 . Thats money in the bank.'. The film's largely painful humor is informed by the mistaken belief that the main characters' criminal enterprise is inherently quirky. She really likes to watch out the window as we land and it helps calm her down. Annie MumoloasCrystal - Mumolo appears in the minor role of Crystal. 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. 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. 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. 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. Police in Phoenix, Arizona, announced the arrest of three women after they confiscated more than $25 million worth of fake coupons in a raid. The comments below have not been moderated, By Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. Yes, like the grocery store coupons that come with the Sunday paper. 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. No. 'These aren't 50 cent off coupons. 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. Queenpins Cast And Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From 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. Queenpins (2021) - IMDb He also explained the counterfeit coupon case to Gaudet and Pullapilly, who sought him out after their curiosity was piqued when they first read about the crime. 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. This installment focuses on the true story behind the crime comedy Queenpins. That's not how the world works y'know. 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. We're all looking for a loophole to find our joy and happiness in life." It was then that they learned of the fakes that were in circulation. (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. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. The Coupon Queens cheated as many as 40 major manufacturers (Business Insider). According to Coupons in the News, Ramierz started selling counterfeit coupons as early as 2007, and was eventually joined by the other two women. The opening scenes show Bell's character getting arrested before a flashback to explain what happened. 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. Slapstick . 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. 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. 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.. A judge sentenced Ramirez to twenty-four months in prison and seven years probation. 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. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. And they get a monthly reminder every time they make their latest restitution payment. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? Kristen Anne Bell (born 1980) is an American actress and singer. The vehicles included a custom Corvette that was worth over $150,000. 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. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. They'd then sell them on eBay and a website, SavvyShopperSite, for a profit. A quarter of the U.S. will fall inside an extreme heat belt. Kiara frowned, watching the usually stoic Ame toss and turn in the driver's seat. 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. None of the characters are based on the real individuals involved, Gaudet told Coupons in the News. His character represents the law enforcementin charge of tracking down the women responsible. Queenpins - Chapter 1 - Elias_Pedro - Archive of Our Own Thats why they say Robin Hood, thats why they say the fat cats on Wall Street deserve it, thats why they say these corporations are evil. Not because they believe any of that, but so they dont feel guilty about their own actions. His message to coupon wrongdoers is, yes, you got a good deal. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. 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). Capitalism always knows how to win. "[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. That's one reasonbeyond saving moneythe scam was so successful. So will Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson be going to see Queenpins this weekend? Preferred customers could get even better deals on better coupons. Ramirez, too, declined to respond to requests for comment. Queenpins True Story: The Real-Life Inspiration Explained - ScreenRant These are free item coupons,' Police Sgt. 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. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. 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. FREE FIRE TOP 3 GAME REAL CHARACTER para SAMSUNG A3,A5,A6 A7,J2,J5,J7,S5,S6 S7,S9,A10,A20 A30,A50 Queenpins (2021) - IMDb In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. Yes, a bear actually did consumer millions of dollars worth of cocaine. Lets break it down. We dont want people to think its funny. 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. 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. Like a coupon high, the fun of this movie does not last. Bud Miller is thought to have loosely inspired Paul Walter Hauser's character in the movie, Ken Miller. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. He can next be seen in the movie Delia's Gone. Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's Queenpins concerns two Arizona suburbanites, Connie (Kristen Bell) and JoJo (Kirby . Credit: Courtesy STX Films. Some customers became aware of the bust after they tried to use the coupons and they didn't work. The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in the. But lets be honest: its hard to feel too sorry for the corporations in this instance. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. -TIME. Just to make him more sympathetic, in addition to the $2 an hour, he has a pregnant wife who also works at the factory. Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste, playing the lead roles, are as spectacular as ever. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. Ramirez, the ringleader, was the only one sentenced to prison time two years while her counterparts got probation. Talk about extreme couponing! 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. The real-life Queenpins: How three Arizona women were busted with $25 MILLION in counterfeit coupons they were selling online - and inspired a new movie starring Kristen Bell The fake coupon game isnt a joke. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million.