Described as inspired by actual events, "Queenpins" is the story of two women who gamed the system until they became visible to those who enforce the rules.
This is a comedy, but not because of pratfalls, wordplay, or the telling of jokes. The humor comes from the fact that the criminals who built an empire start out clipping coupons, an activity that many housewives engage in. What makes it even funnier is its basis in fact.
Connie Kominski (Kristen Bell) is a Phoenix homemaker who has a competitive streak. She used to be an Olympic athlete. When she begins clipping coupons seriously, she finds joy in maximizing the discounts she can achieve. Neighbor JoJo (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) is a small-time promoter on social media who also sells cosmetics in her customers' homes; in short, she is a go-getter. They join forces when Connie realizes there are other ways to stockpile discounted products, yielding greater results.
They eventually get so big that a local grocery chain employee starts to notice anomalies. Ken Miller (Paul Walter Hauser) plays by the rules and enforces them strictly. When he thinks the scam is too big for him to handle, he goes to the Feds.
The first part of the film focuses on Connie and Jojo. When Ken meets U. S. Postal Inspector Simon Kilmurry (Vince Vaughn), the focus shifts to their unlikely partnership and the film actually becomes funnier. It's not a bromance, but they come to understand each other better and gain mutual respect.
This is a comedy, but not because of pratfalls, wordplay, or the telling of jokes. The humor comes from the fact that the criminals who built an empire start out clipping coupons, an activity that many housewives engage in. What makes it even funnier is its basis in fact.
Connie Kominski (Kristen Bell) is a Phoenix homemaker who has a competitive streak. She used to be an Olympic athlete. When she begins clipping coupons seriously, she finds joy in maximizing the discounts she can achieve. Neighbor JoJo (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) is a small-time promoter on social media who also sells cosmetics in her customers' homes; in short, she is a go-getter. They join forces when Connie realizes there are other ways to stockpile discounted products, yielding greater results.
They eventually get so big that a local grocery chain employee starts to notice anomalies. Ken Miller (Paul Walter Hauser) plays by the rules and enforces them strictly. When he thinks the scam is too big for him to handle, he goes to the Feds.
The first part of the film focuses on Connie and Jojo. When Ken meets U. S. Postal Inspector Simon Kilmurry (Vince Vaughn), the focus shifts to their unlikely partnership and the film actually becomes funnier. It's not a bromance, but they come to understand each other better and gain mutual respect.