The Office: Season Four | Christian Toto reviews, Comedy, Television | DONNE TEMPO
The Office: Season Four
"Office" drones can catch up on the show's fourth season with a new box set hitting DVD stores this week (Sept. 2). The four-disk set features 16 episodes of the strike-shortened season, including five hour-long installments. But it more than makes up for the work stoppage thanks to a bevy of deleted scenes and commentary.
Kudos to Greg Daniels, one of televisions brightest and least recognized talents who previously helped bring "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" to life. His Everyman touch is all over "The Office."
The faux documentary format allows for endless comic possibilities. Some characters play to the camera, while others pray it would go away. Its uncomfortable comedy delivered with Swiss-like precision. Had the writing and performances been anything less than stellar, "The Office" would be as bad as the worst improv comedy.
It all starts with Michael Scott (the great Steve Carell), the unctuous boss of the Dunder Mifflin paper company office in Scranton, Pa. Carell remains the signature attraction here, the comic anchor for the ensuing hilarity. Like other great talents, Carell makes being self-centered and ignorant seem downright charming.
The cast features attractive folk like and Jenna Fischer (Pam) and John Krasinski (Jim), but character actor types flesh out the deep ensemble. It's easy to imagine being stuck in a water cooler conversation with any of them. You might not entrust Dwight (Rainn Wilson) to watch your cat, or even your ham sandwich, but his recognizable quirks lend the production an added layer of realism.
Some standout episodes here include:
* "The Ad" - Directed by "Juno's" Jason Reitman, the episode captures the craving many office workers have to inject some creativity into their work schedules. And the writers wisely don't mock them for their efforts. For once, Michael is squarely on his workers' side. The gang takes a stab at producing a commercial for Dunder Mifflin, even though the powers-that-be want their ad team to do the honors.
The jokes aren't as hilarious here, but the small gems add up in a hurry. Dwight loses himself in the Internet reality world known as Second Life, and Pam pulls an all nighter to create an animated logo for the spot. Michael does what he knows best - he insults the ad professionals before embarking on his own "director's cut."
* "SurvivorMan" finds Michael going it alone in the woods to prove his animal instincts haven't been dulled by cubicle life. Naturally, Dwight tags along to make sure his quest is honored. It's another example of how malleable Carell's presentation can be, switching for arrogance to admitting his limitations in the most graceless way possible.
Jim is left in charge of the office, and he immediately causes friction between his co-workers when he cancels the standard birthday celebrations in favor of one big communal party. The episode speaks volumes about the modern work attitude, and Jim and Michael share an oddly rewarding bond near the final credits.
The goods: "The Office" typifies the modern approach to situation comedies/ No laugh track. No three camera shoot. It's all pseudo documentary style, and the format never gets tired. And watching a full season together means each bit player gets a chance to shine.
The Mandatory Extras: A gaggle of deleted scenes, many of them just as cutting as what made the final episodes. Hard to believe so much precise planning goes into each installment, but it's great to see what gags were deemed unworthy of broadcast time.
Above and Beyond: "The Office" and "30 Rock" are televisions best, boldest comedies. And with the glut of reality shows on network television, they could be the last of their kind.
— Christian Toto
