I think it is ridiculous of the screenwriters to suggest that Chatterton was the desired object of an older man. The movie in itself seems hollow and the characters were unaffecting. The wit is not witty. It is reminiscent of a bad episode of Third Rock from the Sun and chiefly surrounds Hurt's obliviousness to modern appliances and conveniences such as TV and fax machines. The intelligence is not intelligent.
Metaphors go no deeper than a casual and general association.
Go watch The Full Monty.