The story of Someone to Love
Someone to Love follows a filmmaker who, struck by the question of human connection, decides to host a Valentine's Day party in a downtown Los Angeles hotel. What starts as a simple gathering becomes something closer to a confessional—an experiment in vulnerability where a collection of strangers and acquaintances converge to explore their loneliness, their romantic disappointments, and their desperate hope that maybe, just maybe, they'll find their person in the room. The film doesn't follow a traditional three-act structure so much as it meanders through conversations, observations, and small moments of genuine human interaction. There's no grand romantic payoff waiting at the finish line. Instead, what you get is something messier, more honest—a portrait of people searching for connection in a city that can feel isolating despite being packed with millions.
Behind the making of Someone to Love
Director Henry Jaglom both helmed and starred in Someone to Love, a deeply personal project that came together in 1987. The cast read like a who's who of character actors and recognizable faces: Andrea Marcovicci, Sally Kellerman, Michael Emil, and notably, Orson Welles—whose appearance here marked his final live-action film role, released two years after his death in 1985. (The voiceover work he'd done for The Transformers: The Movie would technically be his last film performance, but Someone to Love stands as his last appearance on screen in real time.) The film arrived with an R rating and clocked in at 104 minutes, giving Jaglom plenty of room to let scenes breathe and characters reveal themselves organically. While the film didn't set the box office on fire—it was a modest indie release in a landscape increasingly dominated by big-budget spectacle—it found an audience among critics who appreciated its willingness to sit with discomfort and authenticity. The thing nobody mentions is that Jaglom's approach was genuinely experimental for mainstream comedy at the time. He wasn't interested in punchlines so much as the awkward pauses between them.
What makes Someone to Love stand out
Critical reception has been surprisingly generous to Someone to Love over the years. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a Fresh 75%, which feels about right for a film that critics recognize as sincere even when they're not entirely sure it works. The IMDb score sits at 5.9/10 from 441 voters—a gap that tells you something important: film critics and casual viewers don't always agree on what makes a comedy worth watching. What's striking is that the critics who championed it seemed to respond to Jaglom's refusal to sentimentalize loneliness or wrap everything in a neat bow. The performances anchor the whole thing. Kellerman, in particular, brings a weary grace to her role, and watching Welles in his final live-action appearance—even in what amounts to a cameo—carries an unintentional poignancy. You're watching a legend, at the end of his life, reflecting on connection and isolation. That context can't help but color the viewing experience. The comedy itself is dry, almost deadpan at times; it's not the kind of film that makes you laugh out loud so much as smile in recognition at how true it feels. Jaglom captures something about the desperation of modern dating and the universal human need to be seen by another person that still holds up.
Where to stream Someone to Love online
If you're looking to watch Someone to Love, you can find it on Prime Video. The film's availability may vary depending on your region and subscription status, so it's worth checking the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page for current streaming information. Movie OTT tracks where this title and thousands of others are streaming across platforms, so you don't have to hunt through multiple apps to find what you want to watch. Given that Someone to Love isn't exactly a mainstream title that rotates heavily across Netflix or other major platforms, having a reliable aggregator makes the search much simpler. Prime Video's catalog includes plenty of indie and cult films like this one, making it a solid home for Jaglom's work.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Someone to Love?
Henry Jaglom directed and starred in Someone to Love. He's known for experimental, character-driven films that prioritize dialogue and human interaction over plot mechanics.
Q: Is this Orson Welles' last film?
Someone to Love was Orson Welles' final live-action film appearance, released two years after his death. His last film performance overall was a voiceover for The Transformers: The Movie, which came after this film was produced.
Q: How long is Someone to Love?
The film runs 104 minutes, giving director Jaglom plenty of time to develop characters and let scenes unfold naturally without rushing toward punchlines.
Q: What's the critical consensus on Someone to Love?
Rotten Tomatoes gives it a Fresh 75%, indicating that critics appreciated its sincere, character-driven approach, though general audiences have rated it more modestly on IMDb at 5.9/10.
Q: Where can I watch Someone to Love?
Someone to Love is available on Prime Video. Check the streaming availability widget at the top of the page to confirm current access in your region.
Final thoughts on Someone to Love
Someone to Love won't be for everyone—it's deliberately paced, emotionally honest in ways that can feel uncomfortable, and more interested in the spaces between dialogue than in conventional comedy beats. But if you're drawn to films that treat loneliness and human connection seriously, that aren't afraid of awkward silences, and that trust their audience to find meaning in small moments, this one's worth your time. Jaglom's willingness to be vulnerable on screen—to ask real questions about what it means to be alone in a crowded city—gives the film a kind of integrity that's rare in comedy. It's not a perfect film, but it's an honest one. That matters.
