Excitement builds for Mario Lopez's Christmas movie in suburban Long Grove – NBC Chicago

It's still looking like Christmas in Long Grove, and there's a good reason for the (way too early) season.

Mario Lopez, his wife Courtney and their son Nico were recently in Lake County to film an upcoming holiday film and they were impressed with the area.

“We absolutely love the city. Everyone here is great and really welcomed us. It’s the perfect, quaint, charming vacation town,” Lopez said.

It's so perfect that Lopez's film is actually the fourth holiday film filmed in the village in the last four years.

“It has a small town feel. It's adorable. It has that historical look. It feels like a community,” said local business owner Gina Andaas.

Andaas' shop, Vintage Charm Homestead, is featured in the film.

“It’s surreal,” Andaas said. “But it was also just a great experience. It has brought the different retailers in the city together.”

Also on display will be the Sock Monkey Museum, which recently won the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of vintage toys.

“When they walked through that door, they saw the magic of this place and said we would write this in the script. And they did,” said Michael Okun, co-owner of the museum.

The producers of the film want to preserve not only the company names, but also the village itself.

“It's really exciting. The script was obviously not written with 'Long Grove,'” Okun said. “But when they saw the city, they changed the name.”

While in town, the Lopez family ate at local restaurants and spent time with residents. They also experienced everything Chicago has to offer.

“We have experienced every season here. Snow, it was hot, all in one day. It was wild,” Lopez said. “I got to take my son to Wrigley Field, which was really cool.”

In the film, Lopez plays the city's mayor. It's a holiday love story in which he reconnects with a childhood friend. There is also a dance number and a song. His wife Courtney stars in the film.

“We’re excited for the people of Long Grove to see all the love shown to their city because we really had a great time,” said Courtney Lopez.

“My Grown Up Christmas Wish” will be released in November.