Black Widow Got 99 Problems but a (Relation)Ship Ain’t One

***Some character development spoilers for Avengers: Age of Ultron*** You have a critical take on Avengers: Age of Ultron. Because you have already seen it. Everybody has. I’m sure to no one’s surprise, my personal take on the movie is articulated right here on the site. It was enjoyable, but not great. It was fun, but not quite as funny as Guardians of the Galaxy or as well put together in its narrative as Captain America: Winter Soldier. Still, Marvel has cranked out enough good movies (and two Thor movies, rim-shot) that it’s not really battling itself for best of studio anymore as much as just executing this ridiculously ambitious plan of telling one story across about 20 movies over the next five years or so. There’s plenty to like about A:AOU and plenty of things to shake your head about, but the biggest fault of the movie that stood out to me was the Natasha Romanoff and Bruce Banner romance. And yes, I am the dude that groans every time a movie is based around blowing shit up and two impossibly attractive people dodge bullets on their way to making out in the middle of a warzone. Still, I know for most action films this is the status quo. It’s the easiest way to up the personal stakes of your protagonist or just a way to offer something to people that need more than quiet conversations or plot movement in between the action. Still, to say that the Black Widow / Hulk romance is forced is to say that in an Avengers movie, a city might suffer a little property damage. It…