We all have our own opinions about what makes for good ads, but there are undeniably some things that tend to crop up over and over again.

An ad can’t be good if it doesn’t get the point across in a way that resonates with and is compelling to the target audience. If it can achieve both of those goals and remain simple – it’s brilliant!

One ad that achieves all this is the Iams “soldier” TV commercial by Carat USA.

This TV spot tells the story of a soldier who has been separated from her dog while she’s on active duty, and their reunion. Product information borrows importance and even credence as it is woven into this simple, but passionate tale (no pun intended?).

This charming story is powerfully enhanced by the visual selection of Rocky, a dog whose size and color are a virtual mirror image of his owner, Dawn, in her military cammo attire. The effect is palpable.

And when Rocky and Dawn join in an all consuming horizontal embrace at the end – staggering!

As one of the millions of dog lovers in the U.S. I am significantly moved by this remarkable and genuine spot every time it airs, and I’m not alone. And when you add the dog lovers to the myriad of folks with unshakable loyalty to our courageous soldiers, the impact of this :30 spot is undoubtedly enormous.

And brilliantly simple.