And it seems like the makers of the movie share this sentiment. She has also worked on soundtracks for movies like Abominable and, most recently, He's All That. In February of 2013,Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise, though a forgery charge was dropped. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). 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 trail led to the Arizona coupon ring located in Phoenix. Now, with their story back in the spotlight, theres no escaping it, even nearly ten years later. A reality television series about this trend had an episode on the Arizona coupon case. $100,000 x 40 is 4 million not 40 million. Some movies are based on true stories, some movies are inspired by true stories. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. 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. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. Once there, buyers would have access to an array of high-dollar coupons. The real-life Queenpins thought that the similar name would make their scheme appear more legitimate. As one law enforcement official put it, these were not the fifty-cents-off coupons one might find in their mailbox. 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. This film wasn't deep, and at times it stretched credibility, but it was fun and engaging. 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. For the most part, yes. David Lake said. Credit: Courtesy STX Films "They're also some of the best writers I've ever worked with. 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. Johnson helped package and ship the coupons to customers, and Fountain placed hologram stickers on some of them to make them look more legitimate. Related:Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide. 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. 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. Rare $300 sign-up bonus card hits market Ad The Ascent. Her ancestry is Polish (mother) and German, English, Irish, and Scottish (father). Except that these ladies sold unauthorized or forged coupons for a fraction of the face value to consumers who used them to get lots and lots of stuff without paying for it. Summary: Amelia Watson, a senior but loose cannon, problem child detective of City PD, has to prevent a war. According to Coupons in the News, Ramierz started selling counterfeit coupons as early as 2007, and was eventually joined by the other two women. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. 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. 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. She was most likely added to the script for comedic reasons in order to frame Connie and JoJo as being in over their heads and desperately needing outside help. However, Ken Miller, a hapless loss prevention officer for the A&G Family Marts stores in the Southwestern United States, learns about the coupons and the losses several companies are taking, and pressures his superiors before ultimately deciding to handle the case himself. 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. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. 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. Neither of them responded to requests for comment about their case, and how or whether they have managed to move on from it. 17:42 EST 23 Jul 2021. (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. Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha makes her feature film debut in the Queenpins movie. Bell plays former Olympian and bored. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? See production, box office & company info. No. The comedy Queenpins is inspired by the largest coupon scam in U.S. history. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? While JoJo is released on bail, Rick visits Connie only so he can admonish her, having been informed by Simon that she and JoJo have defrauded over 240 companies of tens of millions of dollars. We dont want people to think they can do this, he said. It was then that they learned of the fakes that were in circulation. 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. Bud is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and an industry veteran. But Lake determinedly led his team in pursuing the case. The opening scenes show Bell's character getting arrested before a flashback to explain what happened. A charge for forgery was dropped. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. 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. [12] Hauser's performance as fraud specialist Ken Miller received praise from critics who praised his onscreen chemistry with Vaughn while noting that the film established him as a comedic actor after his breakthrough role in 2019's Richard Jewell. Because at Coupons In The News, we believe an educated consumer is the best couponer! In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Yes, a bear actually did consumer millions of dollars worth of cocaine. There's a reason Bell is making quips about crime. [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. While the movie is focused on two women, there were three at the heart of the real coupon ring. Counterfeit Coupon Ringleader Pleads Guilty - Coupons in the News, Woman spends $600 on SavvyShopperSite.com fake coupons - Jill Cataldo. They also turned to the Coupon Information Corporation. The Queenpins true story reveals that there were three women involved in the real-life scheme, not two like in the movie. Being clever with coupons makes her feel like she is making a financial contribution. Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. At the time of her arrest, investigators discovered Ramirez had four online accounts and 12 bank accounts. Law-enforcement authorities, manufacturers, and retailers advise against purchasing coupons. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. 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. 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). 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. 'Sometimes I would come out with three carts of groceries.'. Kristen Bell as Connie Kaminski and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as JoJo Johnson in QUEENPINS. Ramirez, the ringleader, was the only one sentenced to prison time two years while her counterparts got probation. 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.. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. Woman on Plane: Hey sorry, uhm, would you mind if we switched seats, just for this last part? "You've got yourself an eighteen-karat run of bad luck, kid.". Ramirez, Fountain and Johnson are now having to live with what they did. Queenpins. (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . The women sold their counterfeit coupons on various online sites, including eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com. What is the Japanese language plot outline for Queenpins (2021)? [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), 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 was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. 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. Nick CassavetesasCaptain Pain - Cassavetes plays Captain Pain in Queenpins. 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. Bell will next be lending her voice to the animated show Do, Re & Mi, as well as appearing in the miniseries The Woman in the House. Written and directed byAron GaudetandGita Pullapilly, Queenpins is about two housewives who created a $40 million coupon scam. A quarter of the U.S. will fall inside an extreme heat belt. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. 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." Jack McBrayerasAgent Park - McBrayer has extensive experience in comedy. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. Yes. Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. A look at what really happened with the characters of Andrew Dominiks 2007 Western epic. 17:23 EST 23 Jul 2021 Kirby Howell-Baptiste co-stars as JoJo Johnson, an aspiring YouTube vlogger and Connie's partner in crime. Carly Stern For Dailymail.com .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. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. She was the only one of the three to receive jail time. No. 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. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. She suggestsmaking fake identities and multiple accounts to store their earnings. But thats just Connie and Jojo. 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. But can you live with what you did?. Others nabbed coupons for free pet food, diapers, and household goods from as many as 40 major manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Hershey. Talk about extreme couponing! For example, a person could use a $25 coupon to purchase a $15 bag of dog food and receive the difference in cash. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHO at the time. 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. Police in Phoenix, Arizona, announced the arrest of three women after they confiscated more than $25 million worth of fake coupons in a raid. They were charged with counterfeiting, forgery, operating an illegal enterprise, money laundering, and other violations. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. It appeared the women were making so much money, they werent even sure how to spend it all. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. According to KTAR News, a Phoenix radio station, the group focused on manufacturers coupons, which typically offer a free item or significant discount. 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. 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. Capitalism always knows how to win. "These aren't 50-cent-off coupons. 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. However, they quickly learned that with a little crime, they could actually make money off of it. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. The only real-life individual you could say was better off after the case than before, is the man who cracked the case. 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.
Stone Foundation Rust Destroy,
Golf Saudi Leaderboard 2022,
Lucy Thomas Singer Photos,
Articles Q