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Her ancestry is Polish (mother) and German, English, Irish, and Scottish (father). Missing Pittsburgh street preacher known as 'The Sparrow' who vanished 30 YEARS ago is found ALIVE and living in 'It's a vindication of what I've been through': Georgia Harrison tells of her 'relief' as shamed reality star ex Two Insulate Britain protesters are jailed for contempt of court after they defied a judge's orders not to refer Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Mom who lost both sons to fentanyl blasts laughing Biden, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' [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. "These aren't 50-cent-off coupons. Queenpins. A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam.A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam.A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. 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. She has spent her life chatting about popular media to anyone who would listen, even appearing on conference panels to discuss her favorite (and least favorite) shows and movies. Savvy Shopper Site had a few other suspicious requirements. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. Like a coupon high, the fun of this movie does not last. But thats just Connie and Jojo. 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. Vaughn is also currently appearing in the series Curb Your Enthusiasm. One account had more than $2 million dollars. 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. 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. His character represents the law enforcementin charge of tracking down the women responsible. 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. Had their deals been a little worse, maybe the women would have never gotten caught. The crime comedy is based on a counterfeit coupon empire that shocked law enforcement. 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. Postal Inspector lead the investigation into their activities, encountering multiple humorous setbacks along the way. Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's Queenpins concerns two Arizona suburbanites, Connie (Kristen Bell) and JoJo (Kirby . This includes forums and any public viewing areas or websites.". In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. The story actually began more than a decade ago, when the women started selling their coupons online. After multiple, very expensive fertility treatment failures, she and her IRS auditor husband (Joel McHale, given nothing to do) are estranged and deeply in debt. 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. 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. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. The only real-life individual you could say was better off after the case than before, is the man who cracked the case. David Lake said. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. By He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. 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 site's critics consensus reads: "Lowbrow humor and inconsistent storytelling undercut Queenpins' talented cast, making this coupon-clipping comedy a disappointingly poor bargain. [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. However, he doesn't appear to have inspired Vaughn's Kilmurry. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. Mugshots of the real women behind Queenpins are displayed below. "We knew, based on our research on past films, the more we dig into the real lives, it becomes much more serious, much more dramatic," Pullapilly told the, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Rexha's character helps Connie and JoJo evade the authorities, mainly by strengthening their internet security. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. 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. After tracing the origins of the ring to Phoenix, the FBI then teamed up with local law enforcement to bust the group. Woman on Plane: Hey sorry, uhm, would you mind if we switched seats, just for this last part? Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? Upon realizing that they could get a coupon for a free item sent to them just by complaining to the manufacturer, they come up with a plan to smuggle and steal cases of those coupons, to then sell to people. Queenpins' cast of characters also includes familiar faces like Bebe Rexha, Vince Vaughn, and Joel McHale in supporting roles. He has been commended by the FBI for supporting them in numerous efforts to fight "complex coupon fraud schemes." It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. JoJo combines two people in real life:Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson. They'd then sell them on eBay and a website, SavvyShopperSite, for a profit. Their script is so nuanced and the words are chosen so perfectly. And it seems like the makers of the movie share this sentiment. Capitalism always knows how to win. Vince Vaughnas Simon Kilmurry -Vince Vaughn plays Simon Kilmurry, a U.S. postal inspector who works with Ken to investigate the coupon scam. Credit: Courtesy STX Films. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHO at the time. These are free item coupons,' Police Sgt. They encounter married employees Alejandro and Rosa Diaz, who agree to send them the unused coupons. 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. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. Yes. In February of 2013,Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise, though a forgery charge was dropped. The Arizona coupon ring's leader, Robin Ramirez, and her accomplices, Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain, were arrested in July of 2012. Authorities later estimated that the coupon ring cost corporations hundreds of millions of dollars in profit. This happened after various companies that had been impacted by the bogus coupons hired private investigators to uncover the origins of the coupons. This installment focuses on the true story behind the crime comedy Queenpins. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. It might have been more interesting to have lead police officer on the case a woman, as it was in the actual arrest. They were a part of a fast-rising category referred to as "pink collar criminals," "nice" suburban women who commit non-violent crimes, mostly fraud or embezzling from businesses or from community organizations like the PTA. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. Follow and/or unfollow him on Twitter. Here . , updated The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. 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.. [5] In October 2020, Bebe Rexha joined the cast of the film. 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. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. 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. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. 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. 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. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. And why Bell and co-star Paul Walter Houser didnt talk to the real people behind the characters they play. We dont want people to think they can do this, he said. The opening scenes show Bell's character getting arrested before a flashback to explain what happened. Queenpins tells a comedic story of two down-on-their-luck Phoenix women who discover their path to prosperity by concocting a $40 million counterfeit coupon scheme that all comes crashing down when they get caught. The film's largely painful humor is informed by the mistaken belief that the main characters' criminal enterprise is inherently quirky. Dave Lake told CBS5 later. Despite the absurdity of the synopsis, believe it or not,Queenpins is based on a true story. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. Ame hissed, "Getting partnered with someone like me. Summary: Amelia Watson, a senior but loose cannon, problem child detective of City PD, has to prevent a war. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. 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. No. Your email address will not be published. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. Marilyn Johnson, 54, Robin Ramirez, 40, and Amiko Fountain, 42, were taken into custody, and in a press conference, police said a search warrant served resulted in the seizing of $40 million worth of coupons and $2 million worth of assets from the womens homes, including $240,000 in vehicles, 22 guns, and a 40-foot speedboat. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. Neither of them responded to requests for comment about their case, and how or whether they have managed to move on from it. [1] It was released on September 10, 2021. The three real-life Coupon Queens carried out their counterfeit operation in Phoenix, Arizona where they lived. 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 counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in theCBS TV docu-series Pink Collar Crimes in 2018. Lets break it down. Queenpins is Rexha's first major acting role. Ramirez, Fountain and Johnson are now having to live with what they did. Autumn Cejer is a Movie/TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. Thats why they say Robin Hood, thats why they say the fat cats on Wall Street deserve it, thats why they say these corporations are evil. Not because they believe any of that, but so they dont feel guilty about their own actions. His message to coupon wrongdoers is, yes, you got a good deal. The three women, Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson, mostly sold free-product coupons. 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. The trailer for Queenpinsincludes audio of Bell and Howell-Baptistes characters calling out systemic inequality and likening themselves to Robin Hood. [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), But its funny that its gotten so much attention, Lake said. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. The true story behind Queenpins reveals that the women bought them in bulk overseas and then posted them for sale on sites like eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com, which is now defunct. The film is based on the true story of three Arizona women arrested in 2012 for a $40 million fraud involving coupons. Required fields are marked *. She is also known for her appearances in Killing Eve and Cruella. Illegal couponing doesn't seem like ahigh-levelcrime, but the two women manage to grow rich off their scheme. Yes, like the grocery store coupons that come with the Sunday paper. Before playing Agent Park, he was inTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,Wreck-It Ralph, Bob's Burgers, and many others. It was then that they learned of the fakes that were in circulation. It isvery pleasurable in the moment but likely to leave you feeling empty and a little queasy. Because at Coupons In The News, we believe an educated consumer is the best couponer! The postal inspector tells Connie it's 1 year for every $100,000 earned fraudulently and that she's looking at 40 years. The women sold their counterfeit coupons on various online sites, including eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. Instead, Hauser's character is a loss-prevention officer for a grocery store chain. 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.. 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. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. 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. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste, playing the lead roles, are as spectacular as ever. 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. The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in the. Jack McBrayerasAgent Park - McBrayer has extensive experience in comedy. 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). 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Coupons in the News features daily news stories and information about coupons, grocery shopping and saving money. 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." 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 sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation.