Jack Harriman becomes a spiritual celebrity after debunking Reverend Guy Roy on a public-access TV show. While on the road speaking his brand of truth, forces natural and supernatural lead him to question whether he has a deeper calling.
DIVINE ACCESS is equal parts comedy and drama. Set in the south, it's a road movie, a buddy picture and an often sweet, thought-provoking story of redemption. Dragged from one religious experience to another by his mother Catherine in an attempt to fulfill her own spiritual quest, Jack Harriman finds that he knows more about the world's vast religions than most scholars. Living a simple life and using his religious expertise to attract women, Jack is asked to join a local cable access television show called Divine Access, produced by his good friend Bob McCord. Bob is keenly aware of Jack's penchant for discrediting religious zealots like the current host of the show, Reverend Guy Roy Davis. Jack humiliates Reverend Davis on an episode that quickly goes viral. Jack's immediate popularity fuels a jealousy and hatred within Guy Roy sending him on a downward spiral from grace. Jack, on the other hand, becomes a spiritual celebrity and reluctantly takes to the road on a multi-city speaking tour. Along for the ride is Nigel, a self proclaimed "catcher" who earned his nickname for catching those overcome with the spirit while on the religious circuit. Jack and Nigel are joined by Amber, a down on her luck call-girl who Jack takes under his wing, and Marian, an enigmatic beauty who challenges Jack's beliefs and questions whether he has some deeper calling. When Jack realizes he has become a false prophet, the thing he despises most, forces both natural and supernatural lead him on a journey to discover his own spiritual truth, culminating in a final showdown with Guy Roy Davis. Surrounded by those he loves and those who love him, Jack's story will forever change the lives of the throngs of fans that have come to hear him speak. Ultimately, DIVINE ACCESS is a story of family, friendship and faith.—Anonymous
Divine Access is a road movie, a buddy picture and an often sweet, thought provoking story of redemption. Jack Harriman has seen it all and is asked to join a cable access TV show produced by his friend Bob McCord. After humiliating the current host of the show, the Reverend Guy Roy, Jack becomes a spiritual celebrity and takes to the road on a speaking tour accompanied by Nigel, a self proclaimed catcher, Amber, a down on her luck call girl, who challenges Jack's beliefs and questions whether he has some deeper calling. Forces natural and supernatural lead Jack on a journey to discover his own spiritual truth, culminating in a showdown with Guy Roy.
A comedy set in the South, Divine Access is a religious satire/buddy movie in the emotional vein of Network with the magical essence of Being There. The story centers on a reluctant prophet named Jack Harriman (Billy Burke). When Jack finds that he has become what he despises mosta false prophet, forces both natural and supernatural lead him down a road to redemption culminating in a final showdown with his long time foe, The Reverend Guy Roy Davis, amidst throngs of followers. Surrounded by those he loves and those who love him, Jacks final message will change their lives forever.
The movie starts with a group of people who may be hippies, or nature lovers, or people who follow a religion such as Buddhism or Wicca, with a narrator saying how his life has been influenced by religion.
Jack lives in a very simple house on a lake. Based on the fact that cities in Texas are mentioned, and the fact that a million people live in a nearby city, and the fact that the credits say the movie was filmed in Austin, the lake is apparently outside Austin, Texas.
Jack wakes up to see his date putting on her clothes. She is not happy and she leaves. On the TV is a cable access show called "Divine Access", hosted by Rev. Guy Roy Davis. The next morning Jack goes outside naked and jumps in the lake.
Jack's friend Bob shows up to ask him to be part of a discussion on "Divine Access", which he produces. Jack, Rev. Davis, and a man named Pete Davis (no relation) with a pyramid on his head will discuss their feelings on religion, with Bob serving as moderator. Rev. Davis is upset that Bob will be the moderator, because he considers "Divine Access" to be his show. Bob insists this is how the show will be that day.
Each member of the group presents the case for his beliefs. Pete believes in the power of pyramids and is pleasant but weird. Jack has a positive opinion of Jesus Christ but also feels positively about prophets and leaders of other religions. He is not convinced that any one religion is the right one, and he is not a follower of a particular religion, but he says whatever a person believes is fine as long as it means treating other people well. Rev. Davis doesn't think much of what Jack has to say and makes insulting remarks.
Afterward, Bob visits Jack at home and says there has never been so much positive response to his show in the three months it has been on the air. People have called to praise Jack. Okay, only four, but that's four more calls than any other episode. Bob wants Jack to come back. Jack is reluctant. Also, Bob wants Jack to speak to the Esoteric Fellowship and it will pay $100. Jack works installing drywall and wallpaper, and he hasn't had any work lately, so he'll take it.
At a bar, Jack is approached by several beautiful women who saw Jack on TV and want advice. Jack doesn't feel qualified but he tries. One of the women is having trouble in her relationship with her boyfriend, and Jack tries to help, not giving her specific advice. But the boyfriend interprets one of Jack's comments as meaning she should break up with him, and they nearly get in a fight. Jack says the man was lucky. Days or weeks later, the girlfriend sees Jack again and the boyfriend hits Jack.
On his next TV appearance, Jack takes calls. He doesn't even know the number, but he gets it from the first caller and tells others what that number is. Jack has plenty of good things to say, and most people respond positively. One female caller, however, says Jack isn't thinking enough about his responsibility to give good advice and consider consequences.
Jack speaks to the Esoteric Fellowship and the people like him. Later, one disturbed man asks Jack to put his hands on him to heal him. Jack doesn't want to but his hands are pulled toward the man's head and the man falls on the ground and shakes. Nigel, who caught the man as he fell, says he has seen this at revivals. He says he has worked as a "catcher" because this is what happens when religious leaders heal people. He says the man is fine and that he would like to work with Jack.
Bob wants Jack to go on tour, and Nigel will go with him. Jack drives Bob's classic Lincoln. Meanwhile, Bob says Rev. Davis can't do the show any more. Rev. Davis warns Bob of the punishment that will result.
As Jack and Nigel travel through Texas, Jack realizes he is being followed by Marian, who is concerned about whether Jack really believes what he says and whether he cares about the people he is helping. He and Marian speak on several occasions.
Rev. Davis has a silly ventriloquist's dummy called MJ who looks like most people believe Jesus looked. He talks to the dummy and the dummy responds. It turns out he is doing this while at work in a grocery store, and the manager has had enough of Rev. Davis and fires him.
Jack gives presentations in each city which include good advice but don't endorse any particular religion, and he returns to a motel each night. In one city, a prostitute named Amber yells at a john who didn't pay her the $300 he owed. Jack asks if he can help her and at first, she thinks she can make it on her own. Eventually, Amber gets in the car with her stuff and travels with Jack and Nigel across the desert.
Rev. Davis asks for help as he is about to be thrown out by his landlord, and people look at him funny as he talks with his dummy.
In the desert the men are eating and Amber offers to do what they want for money. They refuse and Amber feels insulted. Jack asks if she wants to try to make it on her own, and she agrees to continue riding on with them.
Back at home, Jack is surprised to find hundreds of people have found out where he lives and want him to inspire them. Food is being served. Jack tries to explain that he is not what they think he is and asks them to leave. Before they do, one man offers him a hot dog. Jack says no, and the man eats it too fast despite Jack's advice and chokes. Jack gives him the Heimlich maneuver, saving his life, and people cheer this miracle. Nigel, who didn't catch the man, admits he made up his story because he needed a job. Again, Jack asks people to leave, and most do.
The next morning Jack goes outside naked to find people in the lake watching him.
Bob is driving his car once again and stopped at a stop sign, he gets his windshield cleaned (not very well) by Rev. Davis. Bob tells Rev. Davis to get in the car because he can't just stop. After they have am unpleasant conversation, Bob tells Rev. Davis to get out.
Jack gets a visit from his mother Catherine. Amber is with him and they all have a nice visit. Catherine is clearly a follower of some kind of Eastern religion and always smiling. She is happy with what her son is doing.
Jack makes one last presentation to a large group, with Catherine attending. Rev. Davis shows up with a gun and shoots Jack. Rev. Davis is arrested and there is some ceremony afterward where Catherine plays a strange musical instrument. Jack is shown relaxing in water as a woman swims past. Rev. Davis preaches in prison.
