However, they quickly learned that with a little crime, they could actually make money off of it. Authorities eventually traced Ramirezs activity back to 2007. Just to make him more sympathetic, in addition to the $2 an hour, he has a pregnant wife who also works at the factory. Why the USPS? They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. 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. The FBI has crooks who commit moremanly crimes to track down. A charge for forgery was dropped. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. $100,000 x 40 is 4 million not 40 million. (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 . Thats the type of money they had.. And the women wont be getting any windfall from Queenpins. 17:23 EST 23 Jul 2021 The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. All three women were arrested and charged with forgery, fraud and counterfeiting. Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise. Queenpins is playing in theaters with plans to stream on Paramount+ in the near future. The crime comedy is based on a counterfeit coupon empire that shocked law enforcement. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. But the coupons were high-quality counterfeits. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Details of the true story at the heart of Queenpinswere first revealed in July 2012. None of the characters are based on the real individuals involved, Gaudet told Coupons in the News. She suggestsmaking fake identities and multiple accounts to store their earnings. 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 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. The REAL story behind Kristen Bell's upcoming movie Queenpins In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. Review: Scamming Audiences with Sophomoric Humor and Dubious Politics. The movie takes a more lighthearted angle on the real story, having to combine ortweak some of the people involved in order towork better as a film. Kristen Bell stars as Connie Kaminski, a suburban housewife who just wants to find a solution for the debtburying her and her husband. That's the psychological illogic of coupons, referred to in the movie as the "coupon high." However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. Afterwards, the duo begins their own website and small business "Savvy Super Saver", which helps them sell numerous coupons and generate profit. Analysts Predict More Deals in the Grocery Store This Year, Savings Apps Are All the Rage This One Most of All, Grocery Shoppers Shrug Off A Tumultuous Year, Couponer Is Dealt A Final Setback In Decade-Old Dispute. The Coupon Queens cheated as many as 40 major manufacturers (Business Insider). Related:Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide. For example, a person could use a $25 coupon to purchase a $15 bag of dog food and receive the difference in cash. 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. Your email address will not be published. In researching the Queenpins true story, we learned that Procter & Gamble did an audit of their third-party coupon processors. Queenpinshits theaters on September 10th and will be available to stream via Paramount+ on September 30th. Ramirez, the ringleader, was the only one sentenced to prison time two years while her counterparts got probation. 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 pair are currently starring as crooked coupon buddies in the crime comedy "Queenpins," written and directed by husband-and-wife duo Aron. Postal Inspector lead the investigation into their activities, encountering multiple humorous setbacks along the way. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. Con Kristen Bell, Lidia Porto, Joel McHale, Kirby. 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. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Kristen Bell - IMDb But its funny that its gotten so much attention, Lake said. 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. By 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). The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. Bell has extensive experience in Broadway, television, and film, leading successful TV series like Veronica Mars and The Good Place. After tracing the origins of the ring to Phoenix, the FBI then teamed up with local law enforcement to bust the group. [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. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). 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. He'd be scary if the film didn't make him the literal butt of the joke. Its that simple. [7], Principal photography began in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes. Queenpins (2021) Rated R for language throughout. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. So even though the events of nearly a decade ago seem like old news to the rest of us, its something the culprits continue to live with. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. Queenpins True Story: The Real-Life Inspiration Explained - ScreenRant (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. Credit: Courtesy STX Films. 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. As one law enforcement official put it, these were not the fifty-cents-off coupons one might find in their mailbox. Kirby Howell-Baptiste co-stars as JoJo Johnson, an aspiring YouTube vlogger and Connie's partner in crime. Although both women also had to financially reimburse P&G, they did not have to serve jail time for their part in the scheme. "I'm saving money!" -Daily Mail. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? She was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by seven years probation. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. 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. They may also expose themselves to additional risk by providing their names, home addresses, and financial information to organized crime rings." 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. Unilever also claimed losses, pointing to five particular coupons that had been founded in Ramirezs home, though a judge ruled that they couldn't prove that the three women were responsible for selling them. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. Ken is the kind of guy who desperately wants to present himself as a stoic, but when alone, screams in rage. No one who purchased coupons faced legal repercussions, but one cant help but think that they are the real losers here. 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. The Arizona coupon ring's leader, Robin Ramirez, and her accomplices, Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain, were arrested in July of 2012. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. 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. Whatever Happened to the Real-Life Queenpins? Your email address will not be published. The story actually began more than a decade ago, when the women started selling their coupons online. 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. They contact the hacker who stole JoJos identity, Tempe Tina, and are taken to her secret location, where she instructs the pair on how to conceal their operation and secure their money, suggesting they use JoJos cosmetics brand Back 2 Black to disguise their coupon business. 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. The only real-life individual you could say was better off after the case than before, is the man who cracked the case. They included coupons for anything from Hershey bars to dog food to diapers. 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. Once there, buyers would have access to an array of high-dollar coupons. The trios many customers never faced charges but they might have. 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. Queenpins: Dirigido por Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly. 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. Ill go out on a limb here and predict that their once noble intentions go off the rails. We just wanted to create our own characters.. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy MSN Article Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. This is much more inspired So we dont really know anything about the real players and we kind of didnt want to. Queenpins' true story is based on the couponing scam designed by three Arizona women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. That is the basic premise of Queenpins, a comedy reuniting The Good Placeco-stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two leads. 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. 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. 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. Yes. Queenpins movie review & film summary (2021) | Roger Ebert Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. His character represents the law enforcementin charge of tracking down the women responsible. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. 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. Autumn has a Master of Arts in English from Northern Michigan University, where she also taught superhero-themed composition courses. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. He also doesn't work closely with the FBI. 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. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. These companies included Hershey, Procter & Gamble, and the Coupon Information Corporation. There's a reason Bell is making quips about crime. The postal inspector tells Connie it's 1 year for every $100,000 earned fraudulently and that she's looking at 40 years. 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. Ramirez, then 40, Fountain, then 42, and Johnson, then 54, were arrested andcharged with counterfeiting, forgery, money laundering, operating an illegal enterprise, and other crimes. Paul Walter Hauser Got AEW References Into 'Queenpins' Film - Fightful 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.. 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. Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. The site's name was inspired by the legit coupon magazine Savvy Shopper, which is in no way related. 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. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. McHaleis perhaps best known for his role inCommunity, and will next be starring in the series Black Box. On the case to bust them: a supermarkets loss-prevention officer and a US postal inspector, played by Paul Walter HauserandVince Vaughn, respectively. Queenpins Cast And Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From 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 is also known for her appearances in Killing Eve and Cruella. The three women, Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson, mostly sold free-product coupons. The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. Having had enough of his lack of support, she declares that she wants a divorce. It was then that they learned of the fakes that were in circulation. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". Neither of them responded to requests for comment about their case, and how or whether they have managed to move on from it. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows. [3] In July 2020, it was announced Paul Walter Hauser and Vince Vaughn had joined the cast of the film. "[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". And it seems like the makers of the movie share this sentiment. Queenpins is Rexha's first major acting role. 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. [1] It was released on September 10, 2021. 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. In a later scene, another postal service worker says they stole 40 million in counterfeit coupons. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. Bud Miller is thought to have loosely inspired Paul Walter Hauser's character in the movie, Ken Miller. Some movies are based on true stories, some movies are inspired by true stories. 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. And why Bell and co-star Paul Walter Houser didnt talk to the real people behind the characters they play. We're all looking for a loophole to find our joy and happiness in life." 'Queenpins' Review: How to Scam Audiences with Sophomoric Humor
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