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. 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. The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. $100,000 x 40 is 4 million not 40 million. 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. she says. 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. The duo then interview a group of postal workers, who remember JoJo, especially because Earl is always watching her videos. In addition, the scenes involving the gun sale include short appearances by co-director Aron Gaudet's brother Nick as a barista, as well as actor and director Nick Cassavetes as the leader of the group buying the guns. 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 story actually began more than a decade ago, when the women started selling their coupons online. 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). This is much more inspired So we dont really know anything about the real players and we kind of didnt want to. Credit: Courtesy STX Films "They're also some of the best writers I've ever worked with. A reality television series about this trend had an episode on the Arizona coupon case. Bell plays former Olympian and bored. 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. Judge Rosa Mroz of Maricopa County Superior Court ordered all three to payProcter & Gamble $1,288,682 in reimbursement. However, they quickly learned that with a little crime, they could actually make money off of it. In February of 2013,Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise, though a forgery charge was dropped. 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. Fountain and Johnson both still live and work in the Phoenix area, in professions that have nothing to do with coupons. 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 filmmakers, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, chose not to interview the real Queenpins for the movie. No. A Loss Prevention Officer and U.S. By mail. The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in theCBS TV docu-series Pink Collar Crimes in 2018. They interview people from grocery stores that the ladies frequent, almost all of whom recognize Connie due to her constantly irritating coupon usage, even successfully linking her to the "Savvy Super Saver" website as she uses its slogan while shopping. 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. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. Whatever Happened to the Real-Life Queenpins? 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. Bud is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and an industry veteran. For her first film since Frozen II (the 10th highest-grossing movie of all-time . And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. 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. No Offense, But These 2 Big Retailers Aren't The Cheapest Ad MoneyWise. They were also ordered to pay Proctor & Gamble more than $1.2 million. 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 leader, Ramirez, pleaded guilty to fraud, counterfeiting, and illegal control of an enterprise. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. The comments below have not been moderated, By But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. Bebe Rexha is the tech genius, Tempe Tina. Queenpins' true story is based on the couponing scam designed by three Arizona women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. 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. Dave Lake told CBS5 later. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. Queenpins - Chapter 1 - Elias_Pedro - Archive of Our Own Having had enough of his lack of support, she declares that she wants a divorce. 'We were ordering hundreds of dollars in coupons every month,' one anonymous user toldKentuckys WPSD. 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.. How Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste's Real-Life Friendship Led This film wasn't deep, and at times it stretched credibility, but it was fun and engaging. It all sounded so unbelievable and over the top, and we knew the story had the makings for a great comedy., So while the women may not be thrilled to see their pasts dredged up and played for laughs on the big screen, Lake is hopeful that moviegoers wont come away with the wrong idea about creating or using counterfeit coupons. Eventually, they brought in Phoenix police, who conducted aneight-week investigation. Police in Phoenix, Arizona, announced the arrest of three women after they confiscated more than $25 million worth of fake coupons in a raid. Ame shielded her eyes from the sunlight, "It's just that it's been a while since I've been on duty at daytime.". Connie, JoJo, Simon (Vince Vaughn) and Ken (Paul Walter Hauser) arewhat Aron and I feelwhat we're all often feeling in this life: undervalued and discounted. I have never purchased coupons from a clipping service or an auction site." Greg Garcia, a cashier at her local A&G Family Marts store, explains to her that companies habitually respond to complaint letters by sending coupons for free items. The only real-life individual you could say was better off after the case than before, is the man who cracked the case. The site's critics consensus reads: "Lowbrow humor and inconsistent storytelling undercut Queenpins' talented cast, making this coupon-clipping comedy a disappointingly poor bargain. The real-life Queenpins thought that the similar name would make their scheme appear more legitimate. [5] In October 2020, Bebe Rexha joined the cast of the film. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. 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. 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. You cant make this stuff up and the filmmakers didnt have to. Kristen Bell stars as Connie Kaminski, a suburban housewife who just wants to find a solution for the debtburying her and her husband. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. From left, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. It is also revealed that Connie, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to conceive following her miscarriage, is finally pregnant through in vitro fertilization. Now, with their story back in the spotlight, theres no escaping it, even nearly ten years later. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. But can you live with what you did?. Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com. US Postal Inspector Simon Kilmurry (Vince Vaughn) appears to be entirely fictional. And they get a monthly reminder every time they make their latest restitution payment. Others nabbed coupons for free pet food, diapers, and household goods from as many as 40 major manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Hershey. Lets break it down. Queenpins Cast And Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From 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. Authorities eventually traced Ramirezs activity back to 2007. [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. Queenpins Movie Writer-Directors Aron Gaudet and Gita - Awardsdaily The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in the. Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. After six months, the pair figure their money is safe to use, but because the money is dirty, they need to spend and clean it. 'They're buying bunches, and they're redeeming them in bunches.'. [3] In July 2020, it was announced Paul Walter Hauser and Vince Vaughn had joined the cast of the film. 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. The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. Directed and written by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the movie stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Vince Vaughn, Paul Walter Hauser, and Bebe Rexha. Read about the latest trends in couponing, get some new coupon alerts and keep up with stories across the country and around the world that have to do with coupons, the companies that issue them and the consumers who use them. 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). Connie initially comes up with the couponing scheme, eventuallyteaming up with her friend to help her pull off the biggest coupon scam in U.S. history. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. Dayo OkeniyiasEarl - Okeniyi plays Earl, who just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, which results in a hilarious interrogation scene with Ken and Simon. She really likes to watch out the window as we land and it helps calm her down. Shedisplays considerable comedy chopsin films like Bad Momsand is also well-known for her role as Anna inDisney's Frozen franchise. That includes the details about the women and the two men chasing after them. Of course, the trailer also shows them later living in luxury and boarding private jets. She does not seem to take it too seriously, telling us that "this is a story about little old coupons.". In researching the Queenpins true story, we learned that Procter & Gamble did an audit of their third-party coupon processors. They'd then sell them on eBay and a website, SavvyShopperSite, for a profit. -TIME, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. This happened after various companies that had been impacted by the bogus coupons hired private investigators to uncover the origins of the coupons. Queenpins is playing in theaters with plans to stream on Paramount+ in the near future. 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." She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. Before playing Agent Park, he was inTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,Wreck-It Ralph, Bob's Burgers, and many others. But court records indicate that she has not quite been able to put this case behind her. Included in the seizures were $25,000,000 worth of fake coupons, 22 assault weapons, and 21 vehicles including a 40 foot boat. The ringleader, Robin Ramirez, started selling bogus coupons as far back as 2007, and was eventually joined by accomplices Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain. The ladies account is frozen due to suspicious activity, so Connie realizes they need to prove their business is legitimate. (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. She lives with her mother and is trying to be an entrepreneur with a series of YouTube videos featuring tips on saving. Yes. She portrays a fictional computer hacker named Tempe Tina, who helps the two main characters with their coupon scam. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. The FBI has crooks who commit moremanly crimes to track down. 17:23 EST 23 Jul 2021 Follow and/or unfollow him on Twitter. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. Watch Queenpins: Bebe Rexha On The Experience She's Had So Far Acting In Her First Film Photos 17 Top cast Edit Kristen Bell Connie Kirby JoJo (as Kirby Howell-Baptiste) Paul Walter Hauser Ken Bebe Rexha Tempe Tina Lidia Porto Mrs. Flores Joel McHale Rick Greta Oglesby Mama Josie Eduardo Franco Greg (Cashier) Ben Sidell Man in Line Nneoma Sampson Herreal-life counterpart isRobin Ramirez, who police considered the ringleader of the criminal operation. "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. Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's Queenpins concerns two Arizona suburbanites, Connie (Kristen Bell) and JoJo (Kirby . Queenpins movie review & film summary (2021) | Roger Ebert Queenpins is Rexha's first major acting role. Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. Kristen Bell leads a strong cast in 'Queenpins,' in theaters Sept. 10 Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. Heres how the real Queenpins counterfeit coupon ring worked: shoppers would purchase the coupons on websites like eBay and/or be invited or referred to the rings personal website, savvyshoppersite.com. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy Queenpinshits theaters on September 10th and will be available to stream via Paramount+ on September 30th. 17:42 EST 23 Jul 2021. He can next be seen in the movie Delia's Gone. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. 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. Queenpins Cast & Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From 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. Your email address will not be published. Aron and I were immediately drawn to the story and had to understand it more, Pullapilly said. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. 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). Paul Walter Hauser Got AEW References Into 'Queenpins' Film - Fightful 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). When Phoenix police seized the counterfeit coupons and the women's assets, they discovered computer records that listed all of the customers who had purchased coupons from the women. We just wanted to create our own characters.. Postal Inspector lead the investigation into their activities, encountering multiple humorous setbacks along the way. The details were first revealed after a Tuesday morning raid in July 2012 by the Phoenix Arizona Police Department. Lets break it down. Her ancestry is Polish (mother) and German, English, Irish, and Scottish (father). They encounter married employees Alejandro and Rosa Diaz, who agree to send them the unused coupons. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. Related:Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like. Queenpins vs. the True Story of the Real Counterfeit Coupon Ring -Investigative Consultants. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. Afterwards, the duo begins their own website and small business "Savvy Super Saver", which helps them sell numerous coupons and generate profit. Will DiGravio is a Brooklyn-based critic, researcher, and video essayist, who has been a contributor at Film School Rejects since 2018. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. 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. MSN Article Details of the true story at the heart of Queenpinswere first revealed in July 2012. 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. Had their deals been a little worse, maybe the women would have never gotten caught. They joined forces with several other affected companies and hired private investigators to track the source of the fraudulent coupons. While the movie is focused on two women, there were three at the heart of the real coupon ring. In a later scene, another postal service worker says they stole 40 million in counterfeit coupons. Mumolo was an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter for the romantic comedy Bridesmaids. "We're talking about anywhere from $400 to $600 million in loss," said Officer James Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department. Bell plays Connie, whose life is smaller and sadder than she expected, following her early success as a gold-medal-winning Olympic athlete (but in a low-profile event, race-walking). According to Coupons in the News, Ramierz started selling counterfeit coupons as early as 2007, and was eventually joined by the other two women. As one law enforcement official put it, these were not the fifty-cents-off coupons one might find in their mailbox. 'Queenpins' Review: Coupon Clippers Go Rogue in a Sly Crime Satire The site's name was inspired by the legit coupon magazine Savvy Shopper, which is in no way related. Credit: Courtesy STX Films. The film is based on the true story of three Arizona women arrested in 2012 for a $40 million fraud involving coupons. 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. Slapstick . Queenpins (2021) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb Their unbelievable success eventually catches the attention of law enforcement. The group would have fake coupons made oversees, including reproductions of legitimate coupons and made-up ones with steep savings. Con Kristen Bell, Lidia Porto, Joel McHale, Kirby. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. It isvery pleasurable in the moment but likely to leave you feeling empty and a little queasy. Kristen Bell Runs A Real-Life Coupon Scam In 'Queenpins' Trailer - UPROXX They enjoy their newfound wealth, only to have their criminal enterprise crumble when they are investigated, raided, and arrested. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's - Yahoo! 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. 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. None of the characters are based on the real individuals involved, Gaudet told Coupons in the News. 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. The film revolves around an ordinary suburban housewife's desire to forge her own path, which ultimately leads her to the world of scams. 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. He also doesn't work closely with the FBI. 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. Yes. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell - TheWrap In July of 2012, police raided Ramirez's home andseized more than $25 million worth of fake coupons. 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. (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . The fake coupon game isnt a joke. Johnson helped package and ship the coupons to customers, and Fountain placed hologram stickers on some of them to make them look more legitimate.
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