It's very easy to say their words," says Kristen. Summary: Amelia Watson, a senior but loose cannon, problem child detective of City PD, has to prevent a war. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. 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. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. It might have been more interesting to have lead police officer on the case a woman, as it was in the actual arrest. Related:Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like. Thecomedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. 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. 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. 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. People who purchased coupons on the site could use them for an item and even get cash back if the value of the coupon exceeded the item's price. 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. By mail. 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. Okeniyi appeared in The Hunger Games and Run Sweetheart Run, and his next role is in Greek Freak. Like a coupon high, the fun of this movie does not last. 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. Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time. David Lake, who was in charge of the coupon investigation at the Phoenix Police Department, "The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type stuff." And it does seem like Queenpinswill take a comedic look at the inequality underpinning the counterfeit coupon market. Tempe Tina does not have a real-life counterpart. So will Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson be going to see Queenpins this weekend? Although both women also had to financially reimburse P&G, they did not have to serve jail time for their part in the scheme. 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.. Nick CassavetesasCaptain Pain - Cassavetes plays Captain Pain in Queenpins. But lets be honest: its hard to feel too sorry for the corporations in this instance. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. They may also expose themselves to additional risk by providing their names, home addresses, and financial information to organized crime rings." Credit: Courtesy STX Films "They're also some of the best writers I've ever worked with. [7], Principal photography began in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. "[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. A real disc jockey inspired Robin Williams classic character. She lives with her mother and is trying to be an entrepreneur with a series of YouTube videos featuring tips on saving. 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. According to Coupons in the News, Ramierz started selling counterfeit coupons as early as 2007, and was eventually joined by the other two women. That's not how the world works y'know. Then-forty-year-old Robin Ramirez led the group, which included Marilyn Johnson, then-fifty-four, and Amiko Amy Fountain, then-forty-two. $100,000 x 40 is 4 million not 40 million. Bebe Rexha is the tech genius, Tempe Tina. Released in the United States on September 10, 2021 by STXfilms, the film received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office bomb, grossing only $1.2 million against a $20 million production budget. she says. Credit: Courtesy STX Films. On the case to bust them: a supermarkets loss-prevention officer and a US postal inspector, played by Paul Walter HauserandVince Vaughn, respectively. Lets break it down. The ladies account is frozen due to suspicious activity, so Connie realizes they need to prove their business is legitimate. 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." 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. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. Being clever with coupons makes her feel like she is making a financial contribution. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. Fountain and Johnson both still live and work in the Phoenix area, in professions that have nothing to do with 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. Rexha's character helps Connie and JoJo evade the authorities, mainly by strengthening their internet security. The film's largely painful humor is informed by the mistaken belief that the main characters' criminal enterprise is inherently quirky. The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in theCBS TV docu-series Pink Collar Crimes in 2018. 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. 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. A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. 'These aren't 50 cent off coupons. The film is based on the true story of three Arizona women arrested in 2012 for a $40 million fraud involving coupons. Ken: Yeah no, even if I wanted to switch, I think it's more important that your daughter learn a valuable lesson. Having had enough of his lack of support, she declares that she wants a divorce. For example, a person could use a $25 coupon to purchase a $15 bag of dog food and receive the difference in cash. The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. This is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. They were also ordered to pay Proctor & Gamble more than $1.2 million. 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.. , updated She does not seem to take it too seriously, telling us that "this is a story about little old coupons.". Judge Daniel Martin sentenced her to 24 months, as well as seven years probation. Kristen Bell And Kirby Howell-Baptiste Run A Multi-Million Dollar Coupon Scam In The 'Queenpins' Trailer. Those are intriguing issues but themovie is less interested in exploring them than it is giving the queenpins makeovers and silly plot detours involving a militia and extended scatological humor. The bare-bones blueprint for the story is accurate; a small group of women make millions selling counterfeit coupons. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. One local law enforcement official at the time told the news: The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. The idea started just as a way for their two families to make ends meet as they struggled to pay the bills. Queenpins is playing in theaters with plans to stream on Paramount+ in the near future. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? The comedy Queenpins is inspired by the largest coupon scam in U.S. history. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. 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. 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. "You've got yourself an eighteen-karat run of bad luck, kid.". A Loss Prevention Officer and U.S. 'Queenpins' Plot Summary 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. Queenpins (2021) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha makes her feature film debut in the Queenpins movie. 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. Autumn has a Master of Arts in English from Northern Michigan University, where she also taught superhero-themed composition courses. The crime comedy is based on a counterfeit coupon empire that shocked law enforcement. JoJo combines two people in real life:Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson. Coupons wasnt even the biggest, most interesting case I did. 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 . Review: Scamming Audiences with Sophomoric Humor and Dubious Politics. 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. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. That is the basic premise of Queenpins, a comedy reuniting The Good Place co-stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two leads. .aspect-ratio-box { height: 0; overflow: hidden; padding-top: calc(720 / 1280 * 100%); background: #f9f9f9; position: relative; margin-bottom:30px; } .aspect-ratio-box-inside { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }, Read original story Queenpins': Heres the Real Story Behind Kristen Bells Crime Comedy At TheWrap, July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women, Queenpins': Heres the Real Story Behind Kristen Bells Crime Comedy, 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. 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. These companies included Hershey, Procter & Gamble, and the Coupon Information Corporation. In real life, the Phoenix Police Department led the investigation with the assistance of the FBI. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? Before playing Agent Park, he was inTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,Wreck-It Ralph, Bob's Burgers, and many others. 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. The duo then interview a group of postal workers, who remember JoJo, especially because Earl is always watching her videos. 'Queenpins' Review: Deals, Discounts and Delinquency - WSJ For diapers and toothpaste. He'd be scary if the film didn't make him the literal butt of the joke. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? For the most part, yes. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. 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. It appeared the women were making so much money, they werent even sure how to spend it all. 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. Watching "Queenpins" is like eating grocery store birthday cake. 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. Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's Queenpins concerns two Arizona suburbanites, Connie (Kristen Bell) and JoJo (Kirby . Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. McHaleis perhaps best known for his role inCommunity, and will next be starring in the series Black Box. "We're Robin Hood," the queenpins reassure themselves. 'Queenpins' Review: Suburban Scammers Two cash-strapped neighbors devise a multimillion-dollar coupon swindle in this mildly entertaining comedy. This includes forums and any public viewing areas or websites.". I have never purchased coupons from a clipping service or an auction site." She has also worked on soundtracks for movies like Abominable and, most recently, He's All That. Queenpinsdebuted in theaters on September 10, 2021. 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. 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. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. They 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. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy That is the basic premise of Queenpins, a comedy reuniting The Good Placeco-stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two leads. Yes. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Ame shielded her eyes from the sunlight, "It's just that it's been a while since I've been on duty at daytime.". This film wasn't deep, and at times it stretched credibility, but it was fun and engaging. 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. But thats just Connie and Jojo. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. 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 Kristen Bell leads a strong cast in 'Queenpins,' in theaters Sept. 10 The Coupon Queens cheated as many as 40 major manufacturers (Business Insider). Mugshots of the real women behind Queenpins are displayed below. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. Queenpins Writers Balance Comedic Tone with Real-Life Drama in Coupon The women sold their counterfeit coupons on various online sites, including eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com. Bell plays former Olympian and bored. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. The coupons are being sent through the mail and the FBI does not take it seriouslybecause it's 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. Once there, buyers would have access to an array of high-dollar coupons. She was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by seven years probation. The True Story Behind the Movie Queenpins - Film School Rejects HBOs Rain Dogs Finds Humor, Despair in the Working-Class Mum at its Center, Berlinale Highlights, Part Three: Hummingbirds, Concrete Valley, Afire, The Oneness of All Things: On Sofia Alaouis Animalia, New York International Childrens Film Festival Opens Window to the World. [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.