Vertical Drama Review: In Love with Mr. Mafia (2026)
In Love with Mr. Mafia brings strong casting and a compelling premise, but never commits to being a mafia story or a romance.
CandyJar TV's vertical drama, In Love with Mr. Mafia, arrives at a moment when the microdrama space is rapidly maturing, and audiences are demanding more from their vertical video storytelling. The film has the concept, the cast, and the genre appeal. But as Dalia's review reveals, good ingredients alone don't make a great short drama. Here's what worked, what didn't, and what it signals for the vertical format.
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It lures you in like a soft, slightly awkward high school romance, and then quietly loads a gun under the desk like a vicious mafia flick, and leaves it all there for no one to discover...
In Love with Mr. Mafia plays in the space between danger and curiosity, where one choice can change everything.
It flirts with innocence, brushes up against power, and gives us just enough tension to keep leaning in. It’s not perfect, but definitely a ride worth taking if you love a little mafia & little romance, with some slow-burn young adult yearning sprinkled in. CandyJar TV may not have hit a home run this time, but they always get on base. Great casting, likable characters, and good stories with potential. Just needed a bit more.
It wanted to be a mafia romance. It wanted to be a young adult slow burn. It committed to neither… and lost both in the process.
In Love with Mr. Mafia lures you in like a soft, slightly awkward high school romance, and then quietly loads a gun under the desk like a vicious mafia flick and leaves it all there for no one to discover like Schrodinger’s Cat. (If you don’t know the reference, look it up) For those that know me, know the dedication that I have to CandyJar TV’s projects. I thought I missed something with this film. I went back and watched again, then I read some of the book. I realized a few things went wrong: In trying to be too many things, the film didn’t do any of them well. It was all just OK. Plus, in this case, it really was way too short. As to why I still give it a B Grade? The characters are likeable, the acting is really good and “for a vertical”, the positives still outweighs the negative. If you like CandyJar TV, you’ll enjoy In Love with Mr. Mafia. Then we get to the critic in me... (keep reading).
In Love with Mr. Mafia has all the right ingredients: mysterious heir, unshakable girl, mob legacy, school setting; but instead of choosing a lane, it hovers awkwardly between them and never fully lands.
The biggest issue? Lack of identity.
If this is a mafia story, then lean into danger, consequence, and power. If this is a young adult romance, then build connection, tension, and emotional stakes. This tries to do both… but gives us just enough of each to feel unfinished. We meet Luna (Lily Brooks O’Briant), who has a naturally grounded presence and a quiet strength that should anchor the story. And Gio (Cameron Richter), who starts off interestingly, less dominant, more unsettled, but that nuance never fully evolves into something concrete. Instead of building on that unique intro, the story rushes past it.
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It wanted to be a mafia romance. It wanted to be a young adult slow burn. It committed to neither...
Dalia
THE DISCONNECT:
There are moments that should define the tone, but they just don’t follow through:
- The classroom tension? Introduced, then dropped.
- The “get to know you” project? Set up, no real payoff.
- The school setting overall? Barely exists beyond 1–2 scenes.
If you’re using a high school/college backdrop, it needs to feel like a world, not a placeholder.
Then we shift into mafia territory…
- The restaurant cooler scene? Suspenseful in concept, but unclear in execution. We don’t actually know what’s happening outside, so the tension doesn’t land.
- The house scenes? Hint at danger, but don’t escalate it meaningfully.
It’s like the story keeps approaching stakes… and then pulling back before they can fully form.
WHERE THE EMOTION FALLS SHORT:
For a romance to work, especially in a vertical, you need moments that make us feel why they choose each other. And that’s where this story struggles. Luna and Gio have push-pull… but not enough connection.
Not enough:
- Vulnerability
- Shared moments
- Emotional shifts
So when the story asks us to believe in their bond later… it hasn’t quite earned it.
Even the smaller character beats, like the grandmother cannoli moment, feel like missed opportunities. That could’ve been warmth, legacy, softness inside a hard world. Instead? It just… passes by.
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Big moments without enough foundation, that is the recurring theme of this vertical...
Dalia
THE CLIMAX: (AND WHY IT STILL HITS… BUT NOT FULLY)
Credit where it’s due: The final confrontation? That’s the boldest part of the entire story. Don Russo forcing Gio to choose between Luna and Professor Campbell is a strong, high-stakes moment. And the reveal about Gio’s mother adds real weight.
The idea is powerful, sure, BUT the build-up isn’t strong enough to support it.
So instead of feeling devastated, it feels rushed into.
Unfortunately, that is the recurring theme of this vertical: Big moments without enough foundation.
CHARACTER TAKE: (and cast)
Luna: Lily Brooks O’Briant
She brings a calm, steady presence that works. There’s a natural likability and quiet confidence, but the script doesn’t give her enough depth or backstory to fully anchor the narrative. (ie: books do a much better job for this, parents, etc)
Gio: Cameron Richter
Starts with an interesting twist: less alpha, more unsettled, but the arc doesn’t fully develop. There’s potential here, especially in the final act, but it needed more internal buildup.
Mia: Katherine Morshedian
The standout bestie that needed more. Her mafia obsession adds energy & personality every time she’s on screen. She understood the tone better than the story itself.
Don Russo: Sean McHugh
He brings presence, but the writing doesn’t give him enough layered moments to truly dominate the narrative the way a mafia patriarch should.
Professor Campbell: Ben Trotter
Serves the plot, but could’ve been more impactful with stronger/earlier integration
Alessandro: Jack Rykert
Solid and steady; severely underutilized.
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It feels like: 'We're told they matter' instead of 'We feel why they matter.' And in romance? That's everything...
Dalia
CHEMISTRY CHECK: LUNA x GIO
There’s tension. There’s curiosity. But there isn’t enough earned connection.
It feels like: “We’re told they matter” instead of “We feel why they matter.”
And in romance? That’s everything.
WHY THIS DIDN’T FULLY LAND:
This comes down to one core issue: Lack of commitment to tone and structure.
- Not enough school to feel YA
- Not enough grit to feel Mafia
- Not enough intimacy to sell a Romance
So it ends up sitting in the middle… without the strengths of either side.
WHY I STILL SEE THE POTENTIAL: ❤️
- The concept is strong (mafia heir + unshakable girl)
- The cast has presence, especially with support characters like Mia & Alessandro
- The final act shows a willingness to take risks
- There are glimpses of a better, more focused version of this story (see book)
- Time is everything... the story can always be e x t e n d e d.
Dalia’s FINAL TAKE:
This isn’t a bad vertical. It’s an uncertain one.
It had the pieces to be a grounded mafia romance or a slow-burn young adult tension story.
BUT it never chose which story it wanted to tell.
In vertical? Indecision is what kills momentum.
Available on CandyJar
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