Felicity Jones

Felicity Jones & Jonathan Bailey drop out of Simon Amstell comedy Maria

Felicity Jones and Jonathan Bailey are no longer attached to star in Simon Amstell's comedy Maria.

The confidently sustained story, the build-up of emotional resonance and the parochial aspirationalism that characterise Cemetery Junction are all of a piece with the sitcom work of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

The film focuses on three pals entering adulthood in 1973 Reading: Bruce (Tom Hughes) is all swaggering bravado; Snork (Tom Doolan) is a clown; and apprentice insurance salesman Freddie (Christian Cooke) is knuckling down to a life of bourgeois comfort he hasn't quite sold himself on yet. He finds a kindred spirit in childhood crush Julie (Felicity Jones), whose slimy dad (Ralph Fiennes) and fiancé (Matthew Goode) - Freddie's boss and mentor at the insurance firm - have decidedly lower opinions of her potential. There are laughs, but this isn't quite a comedy.

The film often leans heavily enough on its models to feel formulaic, and its romances map too closely on to those of The Office. Overall, though, it's refreshing to see a mainstream British film with the ambition to strut its stuff on studio terms. Aspirational indeed.

Video: Bailey 'horrified' at appearing nude by accident

Bill Bailey has described his horror on learning that a moment when he accidentally dropped his towel during filming had been included as a nude scene in his new romantic comedy, Chalet Girl.

The comedian was joined on BBC Breakfast by actress Felicity Jones, who plays Bill's daughter Kim in their film about a young woman who leaves home to work on a ski resort.

Chalet Girl, which also stars Sophia Bush, Ed Westwick and Bill Nighy, is released in the UK on 16 March 2011, rated 12A.