The top plant is a Weigela.

As for the lower plant, although I don't know this cultivar, the growth looks normal to me and it isn't flowering much because Weigela flowers on last year's wood. Those long branches are this year's wood. They'll flower next year and branch out more.

Thanks! I figured the top one is a weigela...

Sonic Blooms are quite popular here in NA

Your Sonic Blooms will bloom heavily once a year and sporadically most of the rest of the season. Usually this takes a year or so to get their roots in the ground. Nice but not like shrub roses which will bloom quite well most of the year.

Should I prune those longer shoots back at all next spring or leave as is?

Personally I'd leave it alone and see how it develops. But I like shrubs to look natural. If you prefer them neat and controlled then you could shorten them after they flower. But wherever you cut them they will send out shoots from leaf axils immediately below the cut, so you could end up with twiggy growth on the ends of the stems. The best way to deal with a shrub like Weigela is to leave it alone and then remove a portion of the stems from right at ground level every few years. To quote someone else 'Google rejuvenation pruning.' Pruning ornamentals is mostly a question of 'could' rather than 'should' or 'ought'.

it just looks rather disproportionate... when i brought them home, they were more compact as you can see by the base of the plant having a more fuller form. The splaying shoots is the growth that occurred after I planted them

I love the colour of that variegated weigela. Great form and outstanding colour.. I have come to love more compact and orderly plants as i mature as as gardener! This is my first year at this home. I did some gardening in the past, but not to this extent as our current property is quite large.

That is the way they grow in their youth. I would leave it for one more season and see what it looks like at the end of next year. If you are still unhappy with the form then you can also lightly prune it after the first heavy bloom cycle next season.

thanks... it seems that plants always look better when you view their images on nursery websites and/or google images

Where is NA?

I know it's not North America. ;-)

Mike