Volume 4 doesn't add much in the way of plot development, but it does provide some entertaining filler episodes and more bunny costumes.  There are plenty of fun moments that highlight Haruhi's own special brand of twisted logic.  Too bad she doesn't realize she has a gift for making the everyday not quite so mundane; she might not be so dissatisfied, if she knew.  Perhaps through the SOS Brigade's subtle influence, these episodes show that Haruhi is becoming a little less egocentric.  Sort of.  This was not the most fascinating installment to the series, but it still made me laugh often enough to not regret renting it.

The school arts festival has arrived and Haruhi is being, well, Haruhi.  The SOS Brigade is finally able to debut their movie (we saw it in the first episode of the series...yeah, that), and Kyon gets the chance to wander the festival and check things out.  Hoping for a nap, he sits in on the Rock Club's music program, where he ends up watching Haruhi perform with a girl band.  Honestly, this whole disc is worth watching for the bunny-costumed performance. 

Still smarting over losing his newest computer (and dignity) to Haruhi's machinations, the computer club president challenges the SOS Brigade to a duel.  Haruhi takes up the challenge, ups the ante, and then leaves it to the SOS members to figure out how to win.  Of course the challenge involves a computer game, and the group has only a week to learn how to play.  Kyon adds to their troubles by forbidding Koizumi, Mikuru, and Nagato from using their talents to cheat.

Volume 4 loses steam by the third and final episode.  Haruhi sends Kyon on a mission to pick up a space heater.  In the meantime, the afternoon at school proceeds as usual.  The ridiculously long stretches of time the audience is forced to watch Nagato read a book are painful.  I don't know if these scenes were included for money-saving purposes or if they were done for humor.  If it's the latter, the humor was totally lost on me, and I just got bored.  There were instances that made me smile, but mostly, I just spent those last twenty minutes waiting for something to happen.

Even though the last episode was a bit of a bummer, the dvd is still fun to watch.  If you've been keeping up with the series, there's no reason not to see this installment.  Just don't go in really high expectations. 

Details: Runtime 1:15, contains episodes 11-13.  Extras include a Nekoman gallery, two making of videos, TV previews, a "special ending," Adventures of the ASOS Brigade, Anime Expo 2007 goodies, a "special teaser" with chibis, and some trailers.