Couponing goes criminal.|Aug. 26, 2021|United States|110 Min.|R
Genre: Comedy;Crime
Description: Two housewives orchestrate a massive $40 million coupon scam in the movie “Queenpins.” Watching “Queenpins” is an experience akin to indulging in a grocery store birthday cake—it’s enjoyable in the moment but leaves you feeling somewhat hollow afterward. The film draws inspiration from the real-life story of three Arizona women who were arrested in 2012 for executing a $40 million fraud involving counterfeit coupons. These were not your typical grocery store coupons found in Sunday papers; instead, the women sold unauthorized or forged coupons at a fraction of their face value, allowing consumers to obtain goods for nearly nothing.
This story falls under the emerging category of “pink-collar criminals,” a term referring to suburban women who engage in non-violent crimes, often involving fraud or embezzlement from businesses or community organizations like the PTA. The Arizona coupon scam was even featured in a reality TV series highlighting this trend. In the film, Kristen Bell, known for her charm in “The Good Place,” teams up with her co-star Kirby Howell-Baptiste to portray the duo behind the multi-million-dollar scheme, adding a quirky and almost endearing touch to their criminal activities. The movie opens with Bell’s character being arrested, followed by a flashback recounting the events. She downplays the seriousness of the situation, humorously calling it “a story about little old coupons.”
While many details from the real case have been altered, including names and backstories, the characters are crafted to evoke more sympathy. Bell plays Connie, a former Olympic gold medalist in race-walking whose life hasn’t turned out as she envisioned. Struggling with the emotional and financial toll of multiple failed fertility treatments, she and her IRS auditor husband (played by Joel McHale) are estranged and buried in debt.
Cast director: Aron Gaudet
Cast actor: Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Vince Vaughn, Joel McHale, Bebe Rexha, Dayo Okeniyi, Nick Cassavetes, Michael Masini, Paul Rust
Original name: Queenpins