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. But can you live with what you did?. Thats money in the bank.'. -Investigative Consultants. After tracing the origins of the ring to Phoenix, the FBI then teamed up with local law enforcement to bust the group. When we use coupons, we feel like we're getting away with something, like we're smart and special. Queenpins' cast of characters also includes familiar faces like Bebe Rexha, Vince Vaughn, and Joel McHale in supporting roles. "We're talking about anywhere from $400 to $600 million in loss," said Officer James Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department. Nick CassavetesasCaptain Pain - Cassavetes plays Captain Pain in Queenpins. It appeared the women were making so much money, they werent even sure how to spend it all. Carly Stern For Dailymail.com But nobody really thought it was a big deal, because, you know, its coupons.. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's - Yahoo! Howell-Baptiste previously worked with Bell on Veronica Mars and The Good Place. $100,000 x 40 is 4 million not 40 million. Couponing goes criminal in the new trailer for Queenpins. In a later scene, another postal service worker says they stole 40 million in counterfeit coupons. 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. Ill go out on a limb here and predict that their once noble intentions go off the rails. 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. 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. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHO at the time. Will DiGravio is a Brooklyn-based critic, researcher, and video essayist, who has been a contributor at Film School Rejects since 2018. 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. That would be too prestigious for Hauser's wannabe-cop Miller (Hauser borrows from his 2019 performance in Richard Jewell). This film wasn't deep, and at times it stretched credibility, but it was fun and engaging. 17:23 EST 23 Jul 2021 Authorities eventually traced Ramirezs activity back to 2007. 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. 'We gotta steal these coupons and sell them to families who really need them. Tellingly, the changes to the details of the real law enforcement and private investigators make them less sympathetic. 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. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. 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). "These aren't 50-cent-off coupons. Queenpinshits theaters on September 10th and will be available to stream via Paramount+ on September 30th. You Are Reading :Queenpins Cast And Character Guide Where You Know The Actors From. As the Time article notes, couponing became popular not only in the wake of reality television shows like TLCs Extreme Couponing but also due to the economic reality in the wake of the Great Recession. 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. Bebe Rexha is the tech genius, Tempe Tina. 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. And it does seem like Queenpinswill take a comedic look at the inequality underpinning the counterfeit coupon market. Afterwards, the duo begins their own website and small business "Savvy Super Saver", which helps them sell numerous coupons and generate profit. The fake coupon game isnt a joke. 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. Two women create a $40 million coupon scam. But thats just Connie and Jojo. "[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. 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. 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. 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. But thats just Connie and Jojo. "This is to American companies who produced American products and hire American citizens" (DSA). We dont want people to think its funny. On the case to bust them: a supermarkets loss-prevention officer and a US postal inspector, played by Paul Walter HauserandVince Vaughn, respectively. 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. The coupons are being sent through the mail and the FBI does not take it seriouslybecause it's coupons. 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 comments below have not been moderated, By 'Queenpins' Review: Suburban Scammers Two cash-strapped neighbors devise a multimillion-dollar coupon swindle in this mildly entertaining comedy. Heres how the real Queenpins counterfeit coupon ring worked: shoppers would purchase the coupons on websites like eBay and/or be invited or referred to the rings personal website, savvyshoppersite.com. The real-life Queenpins: How three Arizona women were busted with $25 MILLION in counterfeit coupons they were selling online - and inspired a new movie starring Kristen Bell The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. Queenpins' true story is based on the couponing scam designed by three Arizona women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. But during Proctor & Gamble'sroutine audits ofthird-party coupon processors, the discovered fakes in circulation and hired private investigators to do some more digging. This is much more inspired So we dont really know anything about the real players and we kind of didnt want to. He also doesn't work closely with the FBI. Queenpins Movie Writer-Directors Aron Gaudet and Gita - Awardsdaily They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. Credit: Courtesy STX Films "They're also some of the best writers I've ever worked with. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. 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. He has been commended by the FBI for supporting them in numerous efforts to fight "complex coupon fraud schemes." Paul Walter Hauser Got AEW References Into 'Queenpins' Film - Fightful Husband-and-wife filmmakers Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly did fly to Arizona in 2018 to interview the real detective who worked the case. It's not a seamless fit. Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. 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. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy For her first film since Frozen II (the 10th highest-grossing movie of all-time . 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. The pair are currently starring as crooked coupon buddies in the crime comedy "Queenpins," written and directed by husband-and-wife duo Aron. 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.