Peter Fonda

Nearly 50 years after Easy Rider, Fonda, 78, joins another road-trip movie in Boundaries (in theaters June 22), about Laura (Vera Farmiga of TV’s Bates Motel fame) driving her elderly father, Jack (Christopher Plummer), crosscountry after he is kicked out of his retirement home. Unknown to her, however, Jack is dealing pot along the way, and Fonda’s character, Joey, is one of his best customers.

What’s the significance of the title, Boundaries?

In the film, Laura says, “These are boundaries that I’ve set.” Then we see them breaking, and how she finally has to give in and drive Jack’s pot around in the Rolls-Royce. She hates the idea, but it’s hysterical.

In real life, how do you feel about boundaries?

It all depends on who drew the line. But sometimes . . . “Oh, yeah? I’m not supposed to cross this? Watch: This is me crossing that line. What are you going to do about it?” I like to do [that] sometimes.

What about the road-trip format works so

well?

Characters on a road trip, they’re together within the confines of a vehicle, so they have to relate to each other. In Boundaries, there are little way stations—like the one with me—that give a broader stage to the journey.

This is also very much a dysfunctional fatherdaughter story.

Absolutely. Normal families are fascinating to those of us who live totally abnormal family lives, which includes me, for sure!

You once said you will never retire.

For me, retirement is a death sentence. If you say you’re retiring, you’re going to die sooner. An actor doesn’t have an expiration date except for death, seriously.