When we use coupons, we feel like we're getting away with something, like we're smart and special. Written and directed byAron GaudetandGita Pullapilly, Queenpins is about two housewives who created a $40 million coupon scam. [3] In July 2020, it was announced Paul Walter Hauser and Vince Vaughn had joined the cast of the film. Perhaps the most telling sign that things weren't on the up-and-up was the fact that the site advised, "Please do not share this information with people that you don't actually know. She does not seem to take it too seriously, telling us that "this is a story about little old coupons.". -Investigative Consultants. How Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste's Real-Life Friendship Led He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. The group would have fake coupons made oversees, including reproductions of legitimate coupons and made-up ones with steep savings. 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. 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. 'Queenpins' Review: Coupon Clippers Go Rogue in a Sly Crime Satire 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. Counterfeit Coupon Ringleader Pleads Guilty - Coupons in the News, Woman spends $600 on SavvyShopperSite.com fake coupons - Jill Cataldo. [8], In June 2021, Showtime and Paramount+ acquired U.S. pay TV and streaming rights to the film for about $20 million. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. 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). Like a coupon high, the fun of this movie does not last. 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. Joel McHaleas Rick Kaminski- McHale plays Connie's husband who is worried about their growing amount of debt. Instead, Hauser's character is a loss-prevention officer for a grocery store chain. Meanwhile, Ken is partnered with U.S. postal inspector Simon Kilmurry. Here . Summary: Amelia Watson, a senior but loose cannon, problem child detective of City PD, has to prevent a war. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. 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. 'These aren't 50 cent off coupons. As one law enforcement official put it, these were not the fifty-cents-off coupons one might find in their mailbox. And it seems like the makers of the movie share this sentiment. A Loss Prevention Officer and U.S. Lets break it down. 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. 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 the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. Queenpins Cast And Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From Kristen Bell leads a strong cast in 'Queenpins,' in theaters Sept. 10 Slapstick . The movie, which premieres September 10, offers a comical take on the true story ofRobin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona, who were arrested in 2012 for their years-long counterfeitingracket and ordered to pay P&G millions in restitution. This film wasn't deep, and at times it stretched credibility, but it was fun and engaging. Required fields are marked *. The film's largely painful humor is informed by the mistaken belief that the main characters' criminal enterprise is inherently quirky. Many of the details of the real story have been changed, including the names, but also backstories to make the characters more sympathetic. They'd then sell them on eBay and a website, SavvyShopperSite, for a profit. Yes, like the grocery store coupons that come with the Sunday paper. You don't always get your way. 17:23 EST 23 Jul 2021 Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste, playing the lead roles, are as spectacular as ever. This includes forums and any public viewing areas or websites.". The coupons are being sent through the mail and the FBI does not take it seriouslybecause it's coupons. Its that simple. Some movies are based on true stories, some movies are inspired by true stories. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. 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 real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. 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. Your email address will not be published. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows. Bell plays former Olympian and bored. Queenpins Writers Balance Comedic Tone with Real-Life Drama in Coupon Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. From left, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. Ame hissed, "Getting partnered with someone like me. Now, with their story back in the spotlight, theres no escaping it, even nearly ten years later. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in theCBS TV docu-series Pink Collar Crimes in 2018. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. These are free-item coupons," Phoenix Police Sgt. A reality television series about this trend had an episode on the Arizona coupon case. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. Judge Rosa Mroz of Maricopa County Superior Court ordered all three to payProcter & Gamble $1,288,682 in reimbursement. [7], Principal photography began in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The filmmakers, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, chose not to interview the real Queenpins for the movie. 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). Had their deals been a little worse, maybe the women would have never gotten caught. They enjoy their newfound wealth, only to have their criminal enterprise crumble when they are investigated, raided, and arrested. Thecomedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. Eventually, they brought in Phoenix police, who conducted aneight-week investigation. She has also worked on soundtracks for movies like Abominable and, most recently, He's All That. Herreal-life counterpart isRobin Ramirez, who police considered the ringleader of the criminal operation. Queenpins is Rexha's first major acting role. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. Thats the type of money they had.. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. At the time of her arrest, investigators discovered Ramirez had four online accounts and 12 bank accounts. Your email address will not be published. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. Just to make him more sympathetic, in addition to the $2 an hour, he has a pregnant wife who also works at the factory. 'Queenpins' Summary & Ending, Explained - Digital Mafia Talkies 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. While the characters in the 2021 movieQueenpins call out systemic inequality and the downfalls of capitalism, it's unlikely that their real-life counterparts shared these same sentiments. The comments below have not been moderated, By Rexha's character helps Connie and JoJo evade the authorities, mainly by strengthening their internet security. 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. It is also revealed that Connie, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to conceive following her miscarriage, is finally pregnant through in vitro fertilization. But the coupons were high-quality counterfeits. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. 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. 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. Vaughn is also currently appearing in the series Curb Your Enthusiasm. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. Included in the seizures were $25,000,000 worth of fake coupons, 22 assault weapons, and 21 vehicles including a 40 foot boat. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. 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. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. Woman on Plane: Hey sorry, uhm, would you mind if we switched seats, just for this last part? Queenpins' true story is based on the couponing scam designed by three Arizona women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. 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 pair are currently starring as crooked coupon buddies in the crime comedy "Queenpins," written and directed by husband-and-wife duo Aron. These are free item coupons,' Police Sgt. Nick CassavetesasCaptain Pain - Cassavetes plays Captain Pain in Queenpins. According to Coupons in the News, Ramierz started selling counterfeit coupons as early as 2007, and was eventually joined by the other two women. See production, box office & company info. The real-life Queenpins thought that the similar name would make their scheme appear more legitimate. 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. Fountain and Johnson each pleaded guilty to one charge of counterfeiting. Goodbye coupons, hello high prices. The ringleader, Robin Ramirez, started selling bogus coupons as far back as 2007, and was eventually joined by accomplices Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain. 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. Kristen Bell - IMDb Related:Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like. Their script is so nuanced and the words are chosen so perfectly. That's not how the world works y'know. The Queenpins true story reveals that there were three women involved in the real-life scheme, not two like in the movie. 'Queenpins' Review: How to Scam Audiences with Sophomoric Humor Okeniyi appeared in The Hunger Games and Run Sweetheart Run, and his next role is in Greek Freak. She is also known for her appearances in Killing Eve and Cruella. Bud Miller is thought to have loosely inspired Paul Walter Hauser's character in the movie, Ken Miller. The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in the. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? From writer-directors Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the film stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Ba. The scheme came crashing down after forty businesses, including major companies like Proctor & Gamble, Hershey, and PepsiCo, filed fraud complaints. Authorities later estimated that the coupon ring cost corporations hundreds of millions of dollars in profit. -TIME. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time. "[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. Authorities eventually traced Ramirezs activity back to 2007. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. Johnson helped package and ship the coupons to customers, and Fountain placed hologram stickers on some of them to make them look more legitimate. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. Autumn Cejer is a Movie/TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. Queenpins - Chapter 1 - Elias_Pedro - Archive of Our Own In July of 2012, police raided Ramirez's home andseized more than $25 million worth of fake coupons. Watching "Queenpins" is like eating grocery store birthday cake. Vince Vaughnas Simon Kilmurry -Vince Vaughn plays Simon Kilmurry, a U.S. postal inspector who works with Ken to investigate the coupon scam. They may also expose themselves to additional risk by providing their names, home addresses, and financial information to organized crime rings." The bare-bones blueprint for the story is accurate; a small group of women make millions selling counterfeit coupons. Bebe Rexha is the tech genius, Tempe Tina. Ramirez, too, declined to respond to requests for comment. However, they quickly learned that with a little crime, they could actually make money off of it. 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 is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. 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. 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. 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. Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste on friendship, coupons - Los 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. Watch Queenpins | Prime Video - amazon.com They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on?

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