Whatever Happened to the Real-Life Queenpins? Credit: Courtesy STX Films "They're also some of the best writers I've ever worked with. The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in the. 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. Queenpins Cast And Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From On the case to bust them: a supermarket's. Con Kristen Bell, Lidia Porto, Joel McHale, Kirby. They'd then sell them on eBay and a website, SavvyShopperSite, for a profit. Your email address will not be published. [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 July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. This is much more inspired So we dont really know anything about the real players and we kind of didnt want to. The trios many customers never faced charges but they might have. Shecan next be seen in the indie film Silent Night and later inThe Sandman TV series. 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.. This happened after various companies that had been impacted by the bogus coupons hired private investigators to uncover the origins of the coupons. Is Queenpins on Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, or Prime? 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. Authorities also seized twenty-two assault weapons and twenty-one vehicles, including a forty-foot boat, in the raid. McHaleis perhaps best known for his role inCommunity, and will next be starring in the series Black Box. Of course, the trailer also shows them later living in luxury and boarding private jets. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. That is the basic premise of Queenpins, a comedy reuniting The Good Placeco-stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two leads. Thats the type of money they had.. Mumolo was an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter for the romantic comedy Bridesmaids. Authorities eventually traced Ramirezs activity back to 2007. 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. 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. Summary: Amelia Watson, a senior but loose cannon, problem child detective of City PD, has to prevent a war. The comments below have not been moderated, By Some customers became aware of the bust after they tried to use the coupons and they didn't work. In researching the Queenpins true story, we learned that Procter & Gamble did an audit of their third-party coupon processors. He can next be seen in the movie Delia's Gone. Bebe Rexha is the tech genius, Tempe Tina. 17:42 EST 23 Jul 2021. The filmmakers, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, chose not to interview the real Queenpins for the movie. 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. The fake coupon game isnt a joke. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Ukrainian soldier takes out five tanks with Javelin missiles, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Hershey's Canada releases HER for SHE bars featuring a trans activist, Moment teenager crashes into back of lorry after 100mph police race. Being clever with coupons makes her feel like she is making a financial contribution. Rare $300 sign-up bonus card hits market Ad The Ascent. Produced by Music by Siddhartha Khosla . 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. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. David Lake of the Phoenix Police Department. The Arizona coupon ring's leader, Robin Ramirez, and her accomplices, Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain, were arrested in July of 2012. Although both women also had to financially reimburse P&G, they did not have to serve jail time for their part in the scheme. The film's largely painful humor is informed by the mistaken belief that the main characters' criminal enterprise is inherently quirky. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? The site's critics consensus reads: "Lowbrow humor and inconsistent storytelling undercut Queenpins' talented cast, making this coupon-clipping comedy a disappointingly poor bargain. Queenpins (2021) Rated R for language throughout. I'd recommend this film for unwinding on a Friday night after a long week. Aron and I were immediately drawn to the story and had to understand it more, Pullapilly said. Because at Coupons In The News, we believe an educated consumer is the best couponer! Joel McHaleas Rick Kaminski- McHale plays Connie's husband who is worried about their growing amount of debt. 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. And they get a monthly reminder every time they make their latest restitution payment. 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. Queenpins is playing in theaters with plans to stream on Paramount+ in the near future. MSN Article What is the Japanese language plot outline for Queenpins (2021)? They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". 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. Bud is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and an industry veteran. When we use coupons, we feel like we're getting away with something, like we're smart and special. 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. 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? The Phoenix Police Department conducted undercover operations in which they purchased the counterfeit coupons. I have never purchased coupons from a clipping service or an auction site." We're all looking for a loophole to find our joy and happiness in life." The real-life Queenpins thought that the similar name would make their scheme appear more legitimate. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. 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). In 2012, investigators found millions of dollars worth in forged coupons. Kiara frowned, watching the usually stoic Ame toss and turn in the driver's seat. Just to make him more sympathetic, in addition to the $2 an hour, he has a pregnant wife who also works at the factory. Carly Stern For Dailymail.com Preferred customers could get even better deals on better coupons. 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. But thats just Connie and Jojo. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. The site's name was inspired by the legit coupon magazine Savvy Shopper, which is in no way related. [10], On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 47% based on 62 reviews with an average rating of 5.40/10. 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. 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. This is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. 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 The opening scenes show Bell's character getting arrested before a flashback to explain what happened. Fountain and Johnson each pleaded guilty to one charge of counterfeiting. Queenpins - Chapter 1 - Elias_Pedro - Archive of Our Own Woman on Plane: Hey sorry, uhm, would you mind if we switched seats, just for this last part? 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. It appeared the women were making so much money, they werent even sure how to spend it all. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. 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. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. You Are Reading :Queenpins Cast And Character Guide Where You Know The Actors From. Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Lets break it down. Bell plays former Olympian and bored. Hauser previouslyworked with Howell-Baptiste in Cruella and also appeared in I, Tonya. , updated Follow and/or unfollow him on Twitter. -TIME, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. She portrays a fictional computer hacker named Tempe Tina, who helps the two main characters with their coupon scam. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Queenpins (2021) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb That's not how the world works y'know. It might have been more interesting to have lead police officer on the case a woman, as it was in the actual arrest. These are free item coupons,' Police Sgt. Watch Queenpins | Prime Video - amazon.com Your email address will not be published. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. Queenpins: Dirigido por Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly. One account had more than $2 million dollars. The group would have fake coupons made oversees, including reproductions of legitimate coupons and made-up ones with steep savings. At the time of her arrest, investigators discovered Ramirez had four online accounts and 12 bank accounts. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. Annie MumoloasCrystal - Mumolo appears in the minor role of Crystal. 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. US Postal Inspector Simon Kilmurry (Vince Vaughn) appears to be entirely fictional. 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. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Queenpins - Chapter 3 - Elias_Pedro - Archive of Our Own 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. You can't make this stuff up - and the filmmakers didn't have to. 'Queenpins' Review: How to Scam Audiences with Sophomoric Humor Bell will next be lending her voice to the animated show Do, Re & Mi, as well as appearing in the miniseries The Woman in the House. Queenpins vs. the True Story of the Real Counterfeit Coupon Ring A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. 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. Tempe Tina does not have a real-life counterpart. But Lake determinedly led his team in pursuing the case. Queenpins' true story is based on the couponing scam designed by three Arizona women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. Kirby Howell-Baptiste co-stars as JoJo Johnson, an aspiring YouTube vlogger and Connie's partner in crime. 'Queenpins' Plot Summary Autumn Cejer is a Movie/TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. Eventually, they brought in Phoenix police, who conducted aneight-week investigation. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Meanwhile, Ken is partnered with U.S. postal inspector Simon Kilmurry. 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. 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 Vaughn is also currently appearing in the series Curb Your Enthusiasm. -Investigative Consultants. [7], Principal photography began in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The duo then interview a group of postal workers, who remember JoJo, especially because Earl is always watching her videos. Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time. We dont want people to think they can do this, he said. Couponing goes criminal in the new trailer for Queenpins. 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. Which brings us to Queenpins, a based-on-a-true-story comedy about the suburbanite besties behind the largest coupon counterfeit scam in U.S. history. "I am not spending money!" (edited by) Casting By Ben Harris Allison Jones Production Design by Jennifer Klide Art Direction by Adri Siriwatt Costume Design by Julie Carnahan Makeup Department Production Management Mike Upton . In a later scene, another postal service worker says they stole 40 million in counterfeit coupons. In reality, thewomen seemed to have a better grasp of how to stay under the radar than the movie portrays, which enabled them to avoid police detection for so long. 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. 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. (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. Watching "Queenpins" is like eating grocery store birthday cake. He also doesn't work closely with the FBI. Instead, Hauser's character is a loss-prevention officer for a grocery store chain. The story of the three womens 2012 arrests for coupon fraud is back in the news, as the major motion picture they inspired is set to open in theaters this Friday. 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. [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), A look at what really happened with the characters of Andrew Dominiks 2007 Western epic. After gathering sufficient evidence, Simon and Ken finally get agents to arrest the pair. They were just two normal women, who felt taken advantage of by major corporations, and genuinely wanted to help other women and families who were struggling. The 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. Ame hissed, "Getting partnered with someone like me. 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. 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. Kristen Bell stars as Connie Kaminski, a suburban housewife who just wants to find a solution for the debtburying her and her husband. Rexha's character helps Connie and JoJo evade the authorities, mainly by strengthening their internet security. Yes. ', 'These people aren't buying a few coupons from this site,' Officer James Holmes added. 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. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy His character represents the law enforcementin charge of tracking down the women responsible. Okeniyi appeared in The Hunger Games and Run Sweetheart Run, and his next role is in Greek Freak. Shedisplays considerable comedy chopsin films like Bad Momsand is also well-known for her role as Anna inDisney's Frozen franchise. Then-forty-year-old Robin Ramirez led the group, which included Marilyn Johnson, then-fifty-four, and Amiko Amy Fountain, then-forty-two. It's unclear if their real-life counterparts,Ramirez, Fountain, and Johnson, had such charitable aspirations when they started their illicitenterprise. It's very easy to say their words," says Kristen. Vince Vaughnas Simon Kilmurry -Vince Vaughn plays Simon Kilmurry, a U.S. postal inspector who works with Ken to investigate the coupon scam. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. The leader, Ramirez, pleaded guilty to fraud, counterfeiting, and illegal control of an enterprise. 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. As one law enforcement official put it, these were not the fifty-cents-off coupons one might find in their mailbox. 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. Had their deals been a little worse, maybe the women would have never gotten caught. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. $100,000 x 40 is 4 million not 40 million. Afterwards, the duo begins their own website and small business "Savvy Super Saver", which helps them sell numerous coupons and generate profit. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. No. She lives with her mother and is trying to be an entrepreneur with a series of YouTube videos featuring tips on saving. 'Sometimes I would come out with three carts of groceries.'. [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. But nobody really thought it was a big deal, because, you know, its coupons.. 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 opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. Talk about extreme couponing! YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? And it does seem like Queenpinswill take a comedic look at the inequality underpinning the counterfeit coupon market. 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. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. 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. However, he doesn't appear to have inspired Vaughn's Kilmurry. Related:Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's - Yahoo! Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. [5] In October 2020, Bebe Rexha joined the cast of the film. (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's Queenpins concerns two Arizona suburbanites, Connie (Kristen Bell) and JoJo (Kirby . Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. But lets be honest: its hard to feel too sorry for the corporations in this instance. 'Queenpins' Review: Suburban Scammers Two cash-strapped neighbors devise a multimillion-dollar coupon swindle in this mildly entertaining comedy. That includes the details about the women and the two men chasing after them. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. The character mainly functions to forward the plot and as the other half of the "buddy-cop" duo with Ken Miller (Paul Walter Hauser). [1] It was released on September 10, 2021. 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. They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). For the most part, yes. Illegal couponing doesn't seem like ahigh-levelcrime, but the two women manage to grow rich off their scheme. 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. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. 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." 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.