Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Unlikely teen romance with serious illness, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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18th Rose
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In 18TH ROSE, Rose (Xybriel Manabat) is a hard-working, extroverted 17-year-old whose mom works in the United States to help support her and her dad on Romblon, an island in the Philippines. Rose works several jobs, toiling to save the money for her dream, a debut, which is a fancy-dress ball some girls have when they turn 18. Jordan (Kyle Echarri) arrives on Romblon with his mom. He hasn't seen his American dad in ten years or heard from him in two. Still, all he cares about is finding a computer café so he can email his dad in the hopes of hearing back. In the meantime, he's rude to everyone at his new school. Plus, because he's handsome, squads of girls scream and chase him, as if he were a rock star. The extroverted Rose decides to knock him down a few pegs and bars him from the only computer café in town, which she manages. Eventually, she pities him and creates a program of action designed to get his father to email back. As their feelings for each other grow, Rose gets some terrible news.
Is It Any Good?
This film ultimately tells the sad story of serious illness, but it does so childishly and by way of a unlikely romance. The impact of the tragedy is dulled by the film's ineptitude, bad judgment, and lack of skill (writing, directing, and acting). Rose's illness is ham-handedly foreshadowed with a nosebleed that's given enough attention to unmistakably trumpet impending doom. The miscast Xybriel Manabat has little choice but to play the poorly-conceived Rose as a constantly smiling girl. That's why she seems jarringly out of character when she's needlessly unkind to Jordan, the clueless and flailing new kid at school. Just as quickly, her behavior whips around again when she starts treating Jordan kindly, advising him on how to get his absent father's attention in exchange for payment so she can raise money for her debut.
The ideas on how to win a long-distance parent's love are ridiculous—becoming famous is one. Despite these drags on our credulity, Echarri as Jordan manages to display what feels like real emotion now and then. The most implausible notion of all is that Jordan falls for Rose romantically, the final touch on fairy tale with an unhappy ending.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it's like to be an outsider at a new school. Jordan looks different from everyone, he misses his dad, and he's homesick. How do you think you would you feel in his position?
Rose wants to earn the funds to pay for her debut, a fancy-dress 18th birthday party. How important is it to have a goal one must work hard to achieve?
Shared projects can bring people closer together and shared difficulties cement can relationships. How does this movie illustrate how friendships form?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 9, 2026
- Cast : Xybriel Manabat , Kyle Echarri
- Director : Dolly Dulu
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Director(s) , Filipino Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Filipino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s) , Filipino Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : School ( Middle School )
- Run time : 131 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : April 17, 2026
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