The Saint Bernard Syndicate

"St. Bernard Syndicate," directed by satirical documentarian Mads Brügger, begins as an amusingly eccentric, mockumentary-style comedy but runs out of gas about halfway through.

A wily left turn into narrative filmmaking for celebrated docmaker Mads Brügger, "St. Bernard Syndicate" deftly extends the dry satirical streak of his non-fiction work into a more heightened vein of farce; rarefied cult status awaits.

The Saint Bernard Syndicate is a film of cheap and fast-paced aesthetics and luxurious content, hinging on culture clash and personal failure, resulting in plenty of uncomfortable laughs.

Has a fresh, zany screenplay, though Odessa, the title character, doesn't give a lick for it.

Very funny at times, but also chilling and always interested in weirdness, giving it a unique take on familiar rhythms of improvisational acting and snowballing scenes of discomfort.

St. Bernard Syndicate is an adequate film for what it is.