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The Office: Season Four | 
 enlarge | Actor: Office
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $49.98
Buy New: $30.99
You Save: $18.99 (38%)
New (33) Used (7) Collectible (1) from $28.25
Rating:  58 reviews
Sales Rank: 1
Format: Ac-3, Box Set, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 4
Running Time: 405 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 1.3
MPN: 61102114
UPC: 025195017329
EAN: 0025195017329
ASIN: B001AEF6AY
Theatrical Release Date: March 24, 2005
Release Date: September 2, 2008 (New: This Week)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Steve Carell (Get Smart) returns in his Golden Globe -winning role of The World s Greatest Boss Michael Scott in Season Four of the hit comedy series The Office! This must-own four-disc set includes every irreverent episode from Season Four including the five extended full TV-hour specials plus hours of hilarious deleted scenes and bonus features! Rejoin Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) as they bring romance to the workplace Dwight (Rainn Wilson) as he continues his quest to be Michael s right-hand man and newly deemed Wunderkind Ryan (B.J. Novak) who s working to drag Dunder Mifflin into the digital age. Developed for American TV by Primetime Emmy Award winner Greg Daniels (King of the Hill The Simpsons) The Office is the intelligent and edgy Primetime Emmy Award-winning series that critics are hailing as the funniest show on TV (Gavin Edwards Rolling Stone). You ll enjoy the inappropriate remarks uncomfortable silences and petty behavior again and again!System Requirements:Running Time: 405 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 025195017329 Manufacturer No: 61102114
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| Customer Reviews: Read 53 more reviews...
 A truncated, but great season June 25, 2008
Steward Willons
52 out of 60 found this review helpful
It's that time of year again - a magical time when television studios release their most successful shows from the previous season in deluxe and frequently expensive DVD sets. But this last seasons was, of course, different. The writers strike cut the season down to 16 episodes and, as expected, many are starting to complain that the price hasn't been discounted. Paying the same price for less product does seem unfair. That is, to everyone but the media industry. As for me, I'm not surprised in the slightest. I expect to be exploited by the media - it's nothing new. The real question is, with all Office season four episodes already available on NBC's website, will people feel cheated enough to forgo this collection altogether?
Season four seemed like something of a departure from the usual style. Earlier seasons featured many episodes with a more-or-less self-contained story that came to some sort of resolution within 21 minutes. Season four seemed to be mainly episodes dealing with larger story arcs. Yeah, there were always little stories going on (e.g. they lose their parking lot, etc.) but they now feel firmly in the background, totally dominated by the more personal stories going on.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. In one sense, I'm happy that the Office is flourishing and moving beyond a simple (but awesome) comedy show. At the same time, I sometimes miss the lighthearted format of the earlier seasons. It's definitely a matter of personal preference.
Regardless, it's definitely a strong season and it's essential viewing for fans of the series because of all the major plot developments. For those who are considering skipping the season on DVD, I would argue that the bonus features make it worth the extra money. You get plenty of deleted scenes, commentaries, and all that good stuff. Sure, you could watch them online for free, but then you have to use NBC's less-than-stellar video player and you still have to watch advertisements.
 Target version with 5th disc Q&A September 2, 2008
Low-Ranking Reviewer (US of A)
29 out of 30 found this review helpful
Disappointing season compared to 1,3, and especially 2? Probably. Overpriced box set considering the shortened season due to the writer's strike? Definitely. Still one of the best shows on tv and still worth owning? Ye-esh. So should you buy it now or discounted later?
Well, i'm a fan of The Office and have all 4 seasons on dvd(recently addicted so i had to play catch-up). This was a day-1 purchase for me only because i love the show; and because i had a gift card and some discounts coming to me. I bought the special edition at Target with the bonus 5th disc being The Office Q&A convention in Scranton, PA. If you don't know what to expect(i didn't), above all else don't expect professionalism or anything fancy. The convention looked huge and was packed with Office fans! The camera-work had a very "we coulda done this with a camcorder"-look to it. It has the standard host/then audience's questions format. It lasts about an hour and is fun only if you're a die-hard fan. However, i thought it was going to be the support cast for 30 minutes, then the main stars for 30. But Steve, Rainn, John, Jenna, and B.J. NEVER appear. Oh well.
As for the other discs, haven't gone through it all yet(episodes or extras-bloopers, deleted scenes, etc) but i was disappointed to see there appears to be only 4 audio commentaries. Now, with a shortened season(which is not their fault) i would think they would try to put as many extras as possible to help make up for it. And with such a large and great ensemble cast, they have plenty of people to choose from to help do this. Yet only 4 commentaries? I only nit-pick about this cause i love the commentaries with the cast and crew and find them(& the deleted scenes) as enjoyable as the shows themselves.
The bonus script is, uh, nice. But you're gonna have to put it in with the dvd's everytime or the outer casing will be too big/loose(you'll see what i mean). The Office sticky notes bonus are also included(yay?). All in one big box for $37 this week at Target. The standard version is on sale for $30 this week minus the big box, 5th disc, and notes. I think Best Buy has their spec.ed., but that comes with a t-shirt/water bottle combo?
Anyway, i hope this helps a little as to whether you want to fork over for the Target 'deluxe' edition or not. Honestly, after all my credits, i only paid $26 for mine but still feel jipped on the commentaries and no Michael, Dwight, Jim, Pam, Ryan, or Toby at the convention(but that might be my fault as i didn't research who was included). Overall 4 stars for dvd set, minus one for price and lack of extra extras to make up for shortened season. Having said all that, i'm gonna hang on to my copy and watch it over and over again, but i'm biased that way. And before you reach for that not-helpful button... FACT: my preview is still better than most reviews like "office rox", "office sux", "my shipment hasn't arrived".
 Send a message - don't buy it July 5, 2008
S. Paul
26 out of 63 found this review helpful
The Office is a terrific show. Many folks, including myself, would consider it one of the best of this decade.
No doubt that NBC took a bath this past television season when the writers struck and season series' were truncated. So there is also no doubt that NBC has big plans to recover some of these losses from us by selling less product for full price. I am a good capitalist, and I do not question their right to do so; but the consumers also have a right (obligation?) to send a message to NBC that we are not going to take it.
I am overseas military, and for a lot of reasons, I have little opportunity to watch television. Accordingly, I have only seen 2 or 3 episodes from season 4. Watching a DVD here and there on my schedule is the only way I get to watch the few shows worth watching. Nevertheless, I will forego buying this set, at least until the price is fair.
If we all buy this now, like the good little sheep NBC wants us to be, you will see the same thing for other short seasons, and the studios will continue to take advantage. Wait them out, if sales are poor, the price will eventually drop.
Too expensive July 1, 2008
Vexatio (The state of disbelief.)
23 out of 68 found this review helpful
The Office is a great show, but there is no way I am paying full price for a season cut short by that joke of a strike.
Another brilliant season for one of TV's most intelligent comedies June 15, 2008
Robert Moore (Chicago, IL USA)
19 out of 30 found this review helpful
My love for THE OFFICE is definite but complex. There are funnier shows (for instance, 30 ROCK), but few comedies are more rewarding. I've long argued that while nothing in the NBC version of THE OFFICE is as brilliant as the absolutely transcendent performance by Ricky Gervais in the BBC original, the NBC series is superior simply because of the way that we have gotten to know the entire group of characters in the Dunder Mifflin Scranton office. Although Steve Carrell is brilliant, the greater virtues of the show lie with the wonderful collection of workers we've gotten to know. Due to this, the NBC version of the show has a depth that the BBC original could never hope to achieve.
I love that in Season Four the producers and writers of THE OFFICE tried taking the show in new and challenging directions. First and foremost, they attempted to negotiate the most difficult obstacle in all of television: how to keep things interesting once you get the show's main romantic couple together. While the dynamics of each episode is always primarily driven by the antics of Steve Carrell's Michael Scott, the emotional center of the show has always lain with the deep attraction between Pamela Beesley and Jim Halpert. But ever since the ratings collapse of MOONLIGHTING after David and Maddie ceased chasing each other and ended up sleeping with one another, virtually every show has striven to keep lovers apart, rather than exploring their relationship together. (Shows that started off with couples together are a different matter. Eric and Tami Taylor on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS have a completely different romantic dynamic than Pam and Jim.) In Season Two we all knew how deeply Jim and Pam were attracted to one another, even though she was engaged to Roy. In Season Three Pam was free, but Jim was emotionally distant after she rejected him in the Season Two finale. The Season Three finale, however, saw Jim asking Pam out on a date to end the season. Season Four begins with them a happy couple, a status that they maintain for the entire season, much to Toby's regret. But the amazing thing is that the writers managed to keep it fun. The season ended with Jim making elaborate plans to propose to Pam, plans that were dashed when the oafish Andy proposed to Angela at the precise moment Jim was about to pop the question to Pam (Angela's reply -- "OK. Just OK." -- was one of the funniest lines of the season).
Although romance blossomed for Pam and Jim, Angela and Dwight ended their secret office romance after he euthanized her cat by placing it in her freezer. Her involvement with Andy was one of the least passionate romances in TV history. (The "OK" reply pretty much summarized it, Angela refusing to give the more positive "Yes" reply to Andy's proposal.) Personally, I found the Michael/Jan relationship to be intensely unpleasant to witness. I'm not a sadistic person and I don't really enjoy seeing it on display in a relationship.
One interesting decision that they producers made concerned Angela Kinsey's real-life pregnancy. I'm sure it had to be a momentary temptation to have her pregnant by Dwight, but in the end they decided not to work her pregnancy into the story. The season's final episodes were filmed shortly before Angela gave birth. Most of her scenes were shot with her standing behind chest high barriers or sitting so that her torso was largely hidden.
On another real life note, it was good to see Jenna Fischer moving around without too much difficulty early in the season. In the June 2007 Up Fronts in New York, she took a nasty spill down a staircase, breaking several discs in her back. Sadly it appears to have been a very painful injury, but luckily one that did not result in any nerve damage.
I've told many friends that I believe that the 2008-2009 television season could well be the finest in TV history. This is partly because so many great series that are at their peak are returning (series like PUSHING DAISIES, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, DEXTER, LOST, 30 ROCK, 24, ELI STONE, and THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES), partly because one truly great series is wrapping up (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA), and some potentially great new series are debuting (mainly DOLLHOUSE, but also THE FRINGE). And part of this is because THE OFFICE, I'm confident, will continue to be one of the most interesting shows on television. It is going to be a very, very good year.
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