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. 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. 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. director of photography Film Editing by Kayla Emter . No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. The character mainly functions to forward the plot and as the other half of the "buddy-cop" duo with Ken Miller (Paul Walter Hauser). "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. They joined forces with several other affected companies and hired private investigators to track the source of the fraudulent coupons. Tellingly, the changes to the details of the real law enforcement and private investigators make them less sympathetic. The bare-bones blueprint for the story is accurate; a small group of women make millions selling counterfeit coupons. 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. Whatever Happened to the Real-Life Queenpins? The ring used a series of twelve different bank accounts to house their money. Talk about extreme couponing! This installment focuses on the true story behind the crime comedy Queenpins. Related:Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide. The fake coupon game isnt a joke. In a later scene, another postal service worker says they stole 40 million in counterfeit coupons. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. 'Queenpins' Review: How to Scam Audiences with Sophomoric Humor The film's largely painful humor is informed by the mistaken belief that the main characters' criminal enterprise is inherently quirky. Their unbelievable success eventually catches the attention of law enforcement. According to Coupons in the News, Ramierz started selling counterfeit coupons as early as 2007, and was eventually joined by the other two women. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. 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. From left, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. The REAL story behind Kristen Bell's upcoming movie Queenpins 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. 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. The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. And they get a monthly reminder every time they make their latest restitution payment. However, he doesn't appear to have inspired Vaughn's Kilmurry. Had their deals been a little worse, maybe the women would have never gotten caught. 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. Instead, Hauser's character is a loss-prevention officer for a grocery store chain. Watching "Queenpins" is like eating grocery store birthday cake. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The Arizona coupon ring's leader, Robin Ramirez, rented an aircraft hangar to store her cars, 40-foot speedboat, luxury RV, and various off-road toys. 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. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women, Queenpins Trailer: Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste Are the Robin Hood of Coupons (Video), Netflixs The Sandman TV Series Casts Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. 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 is Rexha's first major acting role. Some movies are based on true stories, some movies are inspired by true stories. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. 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. Queenpins Movie Writer-Directors Aron Gaudet and Gita - Awardsdaily The idea started just as a way for their two families to make ends meet as they struggled to pay the bills. 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 . Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. 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. You Are Reading :Queenpins Cast And Character Guide Where You Know The Actors From. 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. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. However, they quickly learned that with a little crime, they could actually make money off of it. -TIME, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. The other two women pleaded guilty to a single charge of counterfeiting. 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 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. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. 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. They encounter married employees Alejandro and Rosa Diaz, who agree to send them the unused coupons. A bright spot is Bebe Rexha as a dark web expert who helps Connie and Jojo launder their money. 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. Related:Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like. Hauser previouslyworked with Howell-Baptiste in Cruella and also appeared in I, Tonya. She was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by seven years probation. Counterfeit Coupon Ringleader Pleads Guilty - Coupons in the News, Woman spends $600 on SavvyShopperSite.com fake coupons - Jill Cataldo. 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. As the Time article notes, couponing became popular not only in the wake of reality television shows like TLCs Extreme Couponing but also due to the economic reality in the wake of the Great Recession. 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). Bell has extensive experience in Broadway, television, and film, leading successful TV series like Veronica Mars and The Good Place. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. According to Sgt. 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. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. "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. So will Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson be going to see Queenpins this weekend? 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. I'd recommend this film for unwinding on a Friday night after a long week. 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. Her ancestry is Polish (mother) and German, English, Irish, and Scottish (father). David Lake said. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. -Investigative Consultants. Ame hissed, "Getting partnered with someone like me. Like a coupon high, the fun of this movie does not last. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. -TIME. Bud played an instrumental role in taking down the three women who inspired the Queenpins movie.Unlike Bud Miller, Hauser's character doesn't work for the Coupon Information Corporation (a not-for-profit association of consumer product manufacturers dedicated to fighting coupon misredemption and fraud). Kristen Bell as Connie Kaminski and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as JoJo Johnson in QUEENPINS. Queenpins - Chapter 1 - Elias_Pedro - Archive of Our Own 'Queenpins' Review: Suburban Scammers - The New York Times And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. I try to work with police chiefs, at the state and local level, to come up with ways of explaining how important protecting our business infrastructure is, he said. Herreal-life counterpart isRobin Ramirez, who police considered the ringleader of the criminal operation. However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. Queenpinsdebuted in theaters on September 10, 2021. Woman on Plane: Hey sorry, uhm, would you mind if we switched seats, just for this last part? Why the USPS? She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. The three real-life Coupon Queens carried out their counterfeit operation in Phoenix, Arizona where they lived. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? 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. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. No Offense, But These 2 Big Retailers Aren't The Cheapest Ad MoneyWise. But its funny that its gotten so much attention, Lake said. That includes the details about the women and the two men chasing after them. By Because at Coupons In The News, we believe an educated consumer is the best couponer! But thats just Connie and Jojo. But the coupons were high-quality counterfeits. Kristen Anne Bell (born 1980) is an American actress and singer. 'These aren't 50 cent off coupons. Queenpins movie review & film summary (2021) | Roger Ebert 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' true story is based on the couponing scam designed by three Arizona women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. 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. You cant make this stuff up and the filmmakers didnt have to. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. 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. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHO at the time. 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 the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Jack McBrayerasAgent Park - McBrayer has extensive experience in comedy. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. They included coupons for anything from Hershey bars to dog food to diapers. Written and directed byAron GaudetandGita Pullapilly, Queenpins is about two housewives who created a $40 million coupon scam. A quarter of the U.S. will fall inside an extreme heat belt. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. 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. This is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha makes her feature film debut in the Queenpins movie. 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." 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? Included in the seizures were $25,000,000 worth of fake coupons, 22 assault weapons, and 21 vehicles including a 40 foot boat. What is the Japanese language plot outline for Queenpins (2021)? 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.. Eventually, they brought in Phoenix police, who conducted aneight-week investigation. Mugshots of the real women behind Queenpins are displayed below. Mumolo was an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter for the romantic comedy Bridesmaids. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. And why Bell and co-star Paul Walter Houser didnt talk to the real people behind the characters they play. 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 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. The real-life Queenpins thought that the similar name would make their scheme appear more legitimate. 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. Rare $300 sign-up bonus card hits market Ad The Ascent. Coupons wasnt even the biggest, most interesting case I did. [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. Kristen Bell stars as Connie Kaminski, a suburban housewife who just wants to find a solution for the debtburying her and her husband. Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. 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. She portrays a fictional computer hacker named Tempe Tina, who helps the two main characters with their coupon scam. [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. It is also revealed that Connie, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to conceive following her miscarriage, is finally pregnant through in vitro fertilization. The film is based on the true story of three Arizona women arrested in 2012 for a $40 million fraud involving 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. 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. She is also known for her appearances in Killing Eve and Cruella. The ringleader, Robin Ramirez, started selling bogus coupons as far back as 2007, and was eventually joined by accomplices Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. Many of the details of the real story have been changed, including the names, but also backstories to make the characters more sympathetic. 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. He also doesn't work closely with the FBI. Thecomedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. 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. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. 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. Of course, the trailer also shows them later living in luxury and boarding private jets. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. I have never purchased coupons from a clipping service or an auction site." 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy 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. 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.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. By mail. "We're talking about anywhere from $400 to $600 million in loss," said Officer James Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. In July of 2012, police raided Ramirez's home andseized more than $25 million worth of fake coupons. Click here to get in touch, or for information about advertising on the site. 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. 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. Although both women also had to financially reimburse P&G, they did not have to serve jail time for their part in the scheme. 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. But can you live with what you did?. Bud Miller is thought to have loosely inspired Paul Walter Hauser's character in the movie, Ken Miller. While the movie is focused on two women, there were three at the heart of the real coupon ring. 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. 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. They'd then sell them on eBay and a website, SavvyShopperSite, for a profit. (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . 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. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. 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. The Phoenix Police Department conducted undercover operations in which they purchased the counterfeit coupons. Queenpins Cast And Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From Husband-and-wife filmmakers Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly did fly to Arizona in 2018 to interview the real detective who worked the case. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's - Yahoo! Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. No. Others nabbed coupons for free pet food, diapers, and household goods from as many as 40 major manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Hershey.

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