Back to trending
Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets

Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets

Comedy · Drama · 2021

In the emotionally charged, wild and humorous world of sixteen year old James Whitman, his struggle to overcome anxiety and depression involve seeking advice from Dr. Bird - a giant imaginary pigeon therapist.

Movie details

Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets

““I am James Whitman. I am light. I am truth. I am might. I am youth.””

2021 Comedy · Drama 1h 49m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

In the emotionally charged, wild and humorous world of sixteen year old James Whitman, his struggle to overcome anxiety and depression involve seeking advice from Dr. Bird - a giant imaginary pigeon therapist.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

The Butcher Boy

The Butcher Boy

Comedy · 1998

Francie and Joe live the usual playful, fantasy filled childhoods of normal boys. However, with a violent, alcoholic father and a manic depressive, suicidal mother the pressure on Francie to grow up are immense. When Francie's world turns to madness, he tries to counter it with further insanity, with dire consequences.

The House of Tomorrow

The House of Tomorrow

Drama · 2019

The film tells futurist, architect, and inventor R. Buckminster Fuller's incredible story through two teens hoping to get laid, become punk gods, and survive high school.

The Friend

The Friend

Comedy · 2025

New York City writer Iris finds her comfortable, solitary life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor bequeaths her a Great Dane named Apollo. The huge dog immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with Apollo, she begins to come to terms with her past, and her own creative inner life.

Rudderless

Rudderless

Music · 2014

A grieving father in a downward spiral stumbles across a box of his recently deceased son's demo tapes and lyrics. Shocked by the discovery of this unknown talent, he forms a band in the hope of finding some catharsis.

50/50

50/50

Comedy · 2011

Inspired by a true story, a comedy centered on a 27-year-old guy who learns of his cancer diagnosis and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.

Wildflower

Wildflower

Comedy · 2023

The story of Bea Johnson from birth to graduation as she navigates life with an intellectually disabled parent and an extended family who can't quite agree on the best way to help.

Imaginary Heroes

Imaginary Heroes

Comedy · 2004

Matt Travis is good-looking, popular, and his school's best competitive swimmer, so everyone is shocked when he inexplicably commits suicide. As the following year unfolds, each member of his family struggles to recover from the tragedy with mixed results.

The Chumscrubber

The Chumscrubber

Comedy · 2005

The Chumscrubber is a dark comedy about the lives of people who live in upper-class suburbia. It all begins when Dean Stiffle finds the body of his friend, Troy. He doesn't bother telling any of the adults because he knows they won't care. Everyone in town is too self consumed to worry about anything else than themselves. And everybody is on some form of drug just to get through their days.

Manic

Manic

Drama · 2002

In lieu of prison, Lyle, a violent adolescent, is placed in a juvenile mental institution where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew—abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and anger—becomes Lyle's last lifeline as he fights to find meaning in a world that seems to defy understanding.

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Drama · 1977

A disturbed and institutionalized 16-year-old girl struggles between fantasy and reality.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Yaniv Raz

Written by

Yaniv Raz

Lucas Jade Zumann

Lucas Jade Zumann

James Whitman

Taylor Russell

Taylor Russell

Sophie

Jason Isaacs

Jason Isaacs

Carl

Lisa Edelstein

Lisa Edelstein

Elly

David Arquette

David Arquette

Xavier

Lily Donoghue

Lily Donoghue

Jorie Whitman

Odiseas Georgiadis

Odiseas Georgiadis

Kwame

Court is in session

Put Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.